MAN ON FIRE

by A. J. Quinnell ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 17, 1980

Can one mercenary alone take on the Mafia in its home territory: Italy? In this variation on the weapon-revenge novel, Creasy is a middle-aged alcoholic ex-Marine and mercenary (Korea, Nam, Rhodesia, etc.) who hasn't worked at his trade in five years and is going to pot in Corsica. Then textile manufacturer Ettore Balletto, who is nearing bankruptcy, gets an inspiration: he will have his eleven-year-old daughter Pinta insured by Lloyds of London against kidnapping by terrorists; he'll plan her kidnap himself; and he'll get a reduced premium by hiring a ""premium bodyguard""--incompetent Creasy, who'll work cheap, with help from his old fellow legionnaire Guido, now retired into the restaurant business. But emotional complications ensue. Little Pinta gets through Creasy's tough hide as he drives her back and forth to school and on picnics; she gives him a crucifix for his birthday. And then Ettore's wife Rika, a creature out of international fashion mags, seduces strange Creasy, who then saves her Life during an odd shootup in Como. More importantly, when Pinta is at last kidnapped (Creasy shoots two of the hoods and is wounded) and when the insurance is paid as ransom to the Mafia (which is supposed to split with Ettore), Pinta dies by misadventure after being repeatedly raped. And Creasy vows vengeance. He goes to a little island off Malta, gets in shape, arranges his massive one-man war against the Mafia using very heavy weapons. . . including rocket launchers. It's a vendetta that climaxes in an ecstatic ballet of bloodletting and visceral revenge--and it's perfectly serviceable entertainment for the kill-kill-kill readership.

Pub Date: Sept. 17, 1980

ISBN: 0060586109

Page Count: -

Publisher: Morrow

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1980

Categories: FICTION