cover image Tatiana

Tatiana

Greg Anderson. Champion Press (WI), $22.95 (304pp) ISBN 978-1-891400-40-7

Neither the charisma of the title character nor the offbeat central plot is likely to hold readers through the comic-book escapes, leaden dialogue and clumsy prose that plague this frantic, blood-splattered chase across Europe and North America. On a carefree jaunt to the remote Dutch countryside, aspiring writer Tatiana Demkakova barely escapes death when she serendipitously videotapes the ghastly crash and explosion of a Russian 747 commercial airliner. Pursued by Israelis, the PLO and assorted other assassins, she eventually discovers they are searching for a missing $600 million in contraband diamonds. Meanwhile, a friendly U.S. secret agent finally helps her bring the tape before a Senate hearing in Washington. Thinly imagined, the debut's banal ending scarcely lives up to the excessive plot twists and high body count. Die-hard thriller faithful should hope Anderson hones his skills before the sequel, Laria, hits the shelves next year. (Aug.)