Jade Woman

Lovejoy's latest and best-yet caper is set in the teeming, steaming diversity of Hong Kong where Gash plumbs the passions of his famous antique ``divvy'' and scamsman sleuth. Forced to flee England after the police destroy his latest forgery, Lovejoy ends up in the Hong Kong airport where he is relieved of his worldly possessions and forced to fend for himself. His first benefactor, an antiques dealer, is shot shortly after their meeting; he is saved next by an expatriate gigolo who needs a partner to accommodate excess business. Though successful at his newest trade, Lovejoy's divvying talenthe can spot a real antique in a warehouseful of fakesmust out. Soon he is also working for a powerful Triad with tentacles reaching deep into international government, commerce and the antique trade. As Lovejoy moves toward the Triad's inner circle, he is drawn to the ``jade woman'' of the title, a combination of brains and beauty and fame, trained for her role since infancy. Realizing he knows too much Triad business ever to leave Hong Kong alive, the rogue-artist must save his skin with the forgery scheme of a lifetime. Along with comic sex scenes and the latest in British slang, Gash gives his readers enough details about the manufacture of fake masterpieces to spawn a new generation of forgers. Ever appealing, ever the con, Lovejoy delivers the real thing. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo/ Mystery Guild selection; author tour. (Feb.)