Free Fall

Mills turns his attention to the world of politics in his third thriller (after Storming Heaven) starring black sheep FBI Agent Mark Beamon, a man with an utter disregard for politicking of any kind, an attitude that has jeopardized his career. As the book opens, he faces not only dismissal from the FBI, but also possible criminal charges for his successful but politically inexpedient handling of a previous case. Anticipating an expensive legal battle to save his job, Beamon--against his better judgment--accepts $300,000 from an anonymous client to find a rock climber, Darby Moore, whose boyfriend was discovered chopped to pieces in the back of Moore's van. Everybody thinks Darby is guilty, despite the lack of a credible motive. Beamon tends to buy that theory, too, until he learns that the dead man had recently unearthed a secret FBI file detailing all sorts of sordid behavior committed years ago by many now-prominent political leaders. The file appears to be in Moore's hands, and it quickly becomes apparent that Beamon is not the only one looking for her. During his hair-raising search, one name keeps popping up over and over again: David Hallorin, the smooth yet devious senator from Maine who's in the midst of a heated run for the White House. Mills blends fine character work with a high-torque plot that splits time between the halls of power in Washington, D.C., the climbing peaks of Wyoming and the dank, smelly prisons of Thailand. Beamon, a wholly human figure nimbly engineered for maximum reader allegiance, is at his best--as is the story--while the hunt is on. The book loses some of its spark down the stretch when the thrill of the chase is replaced by the predictable machinations of politics. 75,000 first printing; regional author appearances; 25-city radio campaign. (Apr.)