Joseph Finder Power Play

Thriller meister Joseph Finder packs a wallop with his latest action charged novel Power Play. Fans of Finder (Company Man, Killer Instinct, Paranoia) know that he raises the bar for suspense novels by setting them in the business world. This time around in a story undergirded by voluminous research he presents a corporation's greatest fear - the kidnapping of top executives. Not one but all.

Detail oriented, this author's characters are vividly realized, at times clearly defined by a phrase, such as shrugging a sleeve to display an expensive wristwatch; "dyed copper hair and a ghostly pallor;" or one wearing a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers: who "needed only a porkpie hat to look like one of the Blues Brothers."

As has been said God is in the details and Finder knows this well.

Hammond Aerospace Corporation employs a jillion people. Pretty low on their totem is Jake Landry, a junior executive. He's a laid back kind of guy without professional aspirations, and still hurting from his break-up with Ali. Both complex and affecting, Jake is a bit of a mystery which unfolds in flashback form. Thus, Finder has created not only a pulse stopping suspense scenario but a fascinating character study as well.

Jake is more than surprised when he's asked to be part of the company's retreat, a three-day session of bonding and games (more accurately life threatening exercises) with the top dogs. The gathering will take place at a remote lodge, luxurious but accessible only by water. No cell phones, Blackberrys or other forms of communication allowed. All of that was puzzling enough, but when he arrives to board the company jet, Ali is there, too, now assistant to CEO Cheryl Tobin.

Once aboard Jake is summoned to the executive lounge where Cheryl tells him exactly why he's been invited along. The reason for his presence pales when that evening a sumptuous dinner is interrupted by an intruder with tobacco stained teeth and "greedy black eyes staring." They think he's a hunter, probably drunk. That's too easy - there are three men in all, each evil, cruel and bloodthirsty.

They're holding the group for ransom, the largest ransom ever, but isn't all of Hammond's leadership worth it? How did these killers know about this meeting, how did they get here? There are many questions but the most important one is how are any of them going to get out of this alive?

Joe Finder has been called a "master of the modern thriller" and "nothing less than a marvel." Rightly so. His Killer Instinct was recently named Best Novel of the Year by the International Thriller Writers Association. Hope he has a large mantel because Power Play is one more award winning tale.

- Gail Cooke