Hot Siberian

This ``entertaining'' suspense novel centers on a secret diamond production/marketing venture between the Soviet Union and South Africa. When diamonds start disappearing, ingeniously diverted to the open market, Soviet export trade specialist Nikolai Borodin is called upon to discover how. ``Tautly written and absorbing, this is a noteworthy contribution to the subgenre of thrillers in which the heroes are Russians and some of the bad guys Westerners,'' wrote PW . (Nov.)