Zagreb Cowboy

Mattich's marvelous neo-noir debut begins in 1991. Balkan war is in the air, the weather is grim, and Marko Della Torre is in the backseat of a Mercedes saloon, sandwiched between Elvis-lookalike Bosnian hit men, on his way to a shallow grave. Marko is an anticorruption officer with Yugoslavia's much-feared secret police, but he isn't above making some cash on the side selling files to Strumbic, a crooked cop. After escaping the Bosnian hoods, Marko realizes Strumbic set him up. Now wanted for crimes against the state, he goes on the run across Croatia and Slovenia, through Italy to London, following the dirty money Strumbic stashed and trying to unravel why Strumbic, the Bosnians, and a mysterious old-guard Communist all want him dead. Morals are murky and loyalties confusing, and Mattich gives the novel a nihilistic yet sprightly sardonic tone. He includes some terrifically funny hard-boiled dialogue, a nice backdrop of Balkan politics, and a few wonderful secondary characters, such as Marko's lovably forlorn boss, Anzulovic, who's giving chase while still hoping that Marko is innocent. The action loses a bit of steam once the story moves to London but promisingly opens the door for a follow-up. Agent: Hilary McMahon, Westwood Creative Artists. (July)