The Gun Runner's Daughter

The complexity of the illegal arms trade comes to life in Gordon's chilling, richly intelligent second novel (after Sacrifice of Isaac). When Allison--nee Esther Rosenthal--learns that her father, the self-made New York representative of an Israeli weapons manufacturer, has been arrested for illegally selling arms to the Bosnian Muslims, her comfortable, sophisticated life (NYU Law School, summers on Martha's Vineyard) is totally upended. Not only does the case dominate the headlines, but the lead prosecutor against her father turns out to be a secret lover from her youth, a complication that forces her to make difficult choices about sacrifice and love. Furthermore, intrepid journalist Nicky Dymityck, who broke the story about her father, tries to get incriminating information from Allison about one of her father's colleagues who is running for the Senate. While addressing the complex ramifications of an international weapons free-for-all, Gordon creates an appealing heroine reminiscent of the biblical Esther--to whom he refers throughout the text--who must grapple with such compelling issues as familial loyalty, sibling incest, murder, the test of genuine friendship and the temptation to manipulate true love itself. In combining the riveting suspense of a political thriller with a character's evolution as the world around her changes dramatically, he adroitly manages an intricate page-turning plot, three-dimensional characters, unflagging suspense, intrigue and ardent romance in a narrative that will surely win a wide audience. Author tour. Agent, Eric Simonoff; editor, Jon Karp. (Aug.)