cover image Deadly Reunion

Deadly Reunion

Ivan Ruff. Franklin Watts, $0 (229pp) ISBN 978-0-531-15099-3

Angst and bitter memories permeate this gloomy account of personal and political betrayal. U.S. intelligence operative John Goolan is sent to London to convince his former professor, Patrick Moresby, now highly influential in the peace movement, to stop his fight against arms escalation. Over the years, Moresby's politics have cov ered the spectrum, most recently as an outspoken cold warrior; now it ap pears he has gone softheaded or sold out. Before they can meet, Moresby is murdered, and Goolan realizes he is being followed. Investigating the crime against his employer's orders, Goolan finds himself once more involved with fellow students from the '60s, now solid citizens except for Jacob Cromer, a seedy permanent student who seethes with a sense of injustice and is involved in marginal causes. Goolan is flooded with memories of Susie Ellerman, a woman he had loved during their university years, who committed suicide. When he meets Susie's sister Judy, a student of Moresby, they try together to solve the professor's murder. The denouement brings betrayal to everyone, especially Goolan, who is left on the run. Ruff ( The Dark Red Star ) has written a competent but ultimately uninvolving thriller. (October)