A Brother to Dragons

An undercover agent's attempt to unravel an insidious alliance between American mafiosi and the Irish Republican Army serves as the premise for this slow-moving, often confusing novel of intrigue. Frank DiGenero, a grandson of a Mafia don and a longtime FBI man, has been given cover after cover since he infiltrated the mob to help put away a kingpin 15 years ago. A few uneventful years in Salt Lake City have lulled him into thinking that he is safe--until a car bomb kills his new wife. Evidence shows that the Mafia soldier implicated in the bombing made numerous trips to Ireland. Going to New York City to follow up this lead, DiGenero teams up with pretty British agent Jilian McCray and uncovers an unholy deal: the mob pitches in with IRA terrorism overseas, and the IRA fronts mob activity in Great Britain. Despite the imaginative plot line and Harrington's understanding of FBI procedure, the writing is flaccid (``Why were they killing him here? Now? Wedged in the front seat? . . At least give him thirty seconds more!''). Harrington ( The Gift of a Falcon ), a veteran of the State Department and the CIA, now works with the National Intelligence Council. (Apr.)