cover image Sightings: Sightings

Sightings: Sightings

Charles Taylor. Pocket Books, $5.5 (416pp) ISBN 978-0-671-73632-3

When Vietnam War MIAs Jerry Santucci and Ed Kelley are spotted 25 years after their disappearance during a firefight, questions naturally arise. One person doing the asking is Leila Potter, whose brother, Danny, was Santucci's best friend. Danny died in the same firefight that led to the disappearance of the two MIAs. After digging through Pentagon sources, Leila finds some damning evidence regarding her brother's death. The firefight was dubious, and Kelley and Santucci had in fact ditched their unit and joined up with Hugh Young, a rogue CIA operative running a thriving drug ring. Eventually they expanded their enterprise, abandoning dope to form Inchar, a cash-rich conglomerate based in Hong Kong. The threat of exposure does not sit well with Santucci and Kelley, so Inchar must take action. Leila, hot on the trail of the ``missing'' men, is joined in her pursuit by Navy SEAL Matt Stone. Meticulous crafting, furious pacing and strong characters, both male and female, distinguish Taylor's ( Shadow Wars ) military thriller. (Dec.)