Assassin
In the world of spy and counterspy, heroes and villains have long memories and may bring their personal battles to the political and military playing fields. Thus, Hagberg's series hero, Kirk McGarvey (last seen in High Flight, LJ 9/1/95), finds himself facing some relatives of his earlier targets when he accepts an assignment to assassinate Tarankov, a hard-line Communist in Russia. Some of the old Soviet bears (Yeltsin, Gorbachev) are still alive, but Russia is spiraling downward. Merciless, ambitious, and well equipped, Tarankov is conquering the country city by city. McGarvey works his way across Europe, but his best plans may be foiled by the well-meaning intervention of his beloved daughter and his French mistress. Assassin is a cut above the competition, mostly because of Hagberg's gift for description, the rapid-fire plot, and the complex nature of his hero. Recommended.?Elsa Pendleton, Boeing Computer Support Svcs., Ridgecrest, Cal.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.