Damnation

Tom Winter, the head of security for a private Swiss bank, investigates a helicopter crash in the Swiss Alps in German author Beck’s disappointing first novel and series launch. Among the dead is Muhammed Al-Bader, an important bank client and relative of the Saudi Arabian king. Tom determines that the crash was no accident when he detects explosive residue on material recovered from the helicopter. Al-Bader, who handled his wealthy family’s investments, had many enemies, including those wanting to delay his project to build a nuclear power station in Cairo, American interests unhappy with Middle East countries turning to nuclear technology, and a troublesome relative. To unravel the conspiracy, Tom travels with Fatima Hakim, an attractive executive working for a client company of the bank, to Cairo, Norway, Boston, and Switzerland. At each destination, the two discover that someone knows their whereabouts and threatens their safety. Lengthy, unnecessary digressions and scenes that contribute nothing to the narrative mitigate the suspense. Agent: Tanja Howarth, Tonja Howarth Literary Agency (U.K.). (Apr.)