Final Answers

Dinallo's ( Rocket's Red Glare ) latest thriller plunges the reader into a tautly paced plot that explodes with the impact of land mines on a racetrack. Special Forces Ranger Cal Morgan beat his Vietnam war trauma and now owns a successful California management consulting firm specializing in insurance statistics. Consulting in Washington, Cal visits the Vietnam memorial with his wife, Nancy. Touching the names of men he served with, he is shocked to discover that he is listed there. Cal's dogtags and ID were lost when he tripped a bomb. Now he realizes that someone died with his ID, and he is obsessed with the idea that he must get this unknown soldier's name on the wall. He and Nancy pursue their quest through a network of agencies with the help of Kate Ackerman, an MIA's wife and activist dedicated to resolving the fates--the Final Answers--of Vietnam soldiers still listed as missing. A simple error in Cal's case is ruled out when their digging leads to Nancy's murder. The Military Identification Laboratory in Hawaii suggests a ghoulish scam that adds fuel to Cal's fire for revenge. He joins forces with Kate, whose skill in evading bureaucratic process abets his capabilities as a killer. Eventually, they are led to the jungles of Thailand and Laos for the devastating Final Answers. Dinallo's gripping story is remarkably affecting as well. Film rights to Anastazi Productions. (Aug.)