Montaro Caine

This curious debut novel from the Academy Award–winning actor Poitier is a serviceable corporate thriller with a twist of religion and science fiction added to enliven its feel-good message. Montaro Caine, 54, the beleaguered CEO of Fitzer Chemical Corporation, is staving off financial ruin and a hostile takeover when he meets Colette Beekman and Herman Freich, two prospective investors. They show him an unusual coin resembling one that, 26 years before, the M.I.T.-trained scientist Montaro had found to be made of unknown elements. At their behest, he reanalyzes it and determines their coin to be slightly different from the one he originally tested. Meanwhile, obstetrician Howard Mozelle, owner of the first coin, discovers it has been stolen, possibly by Cordiss Krinkle, a former receptionist at his practice. Howard meets with Montaro and relates the bizarre tale of how Matthew Perch, a Bahamian “sorcerer” with some connection to the coins, cured Howard’s wife, Elsen, of her cancer. As the race to find and benefit from the mysterious objects heats up, further revelations emerge about the coins’ celestial origins. For an octogenarian first-time novelist, Poitier has delivered a surprisingly intricate, if idiosyncratic, tale sure to please his many fans. Agent: Mort Janklow, Janklow & Nesbit. (May)