Jig

Armstrong's topnotch thriller gets off with a bang as wealthy American supporters of the IRA are shocked out of their complacency when the distant war comes to their own homeground. The theft of $10 million bound for the Cause provokes the secret army's inner circle to send out its most reliable man, the nameless, faceless Jig, an unerring terrorist who avoids harming the innocent. Following a tip that one of the key American fundraisers is responsible, Jig becomes a detective, like his opposite number, British cop Frank Pagan, who dogs his heels. Also over here, by unlikely coincidence, is a rabble-rousing Protestant minister from Belfast who is playing his own violent game. Individually, many of the characters and actions are cliches and stereotypes but Armstrong weaves a web of broken and yearning family ties, both real and metaphoric, that will draw readers in and speed them through the maze. (August 17)