THE HARRISON AFFAIR

by Gerald Seymour ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 25, 1979

The author of The Glory Boys and Kingfisher has made something of a specialty out of terrorism from the terrorist's point of view--and there could hardly be a more timely topic. But, perhaps because he's covered the ground so thoroughly already, Seymour is at his least compelling in this terrorist kidnap tale: literate, atmospheric, and blessedly unsensationalistic, but also uninventive, slow-moving (interior monologues abounding), and essentially thin. The kidnapee: Geoffrey Harrison, representative of a British conglomerate in Italy, where kidnapping is ""a successful growth industry."" The kidnappers: sophisticated Mafiosi, in it only for the money. The twist: while the Italian police hunt for the Mafia's kidnap hideout, someone else beats them to it--he's feverish young Giancarlo of the NAP terrorist group. Giancarlo's leader (and lover), beautifully surly Franca, has been grabbed by the authorities, and so infatuated, desperate Giancarlo sees ""a way to win back from the bastards his Franca""; he'll track down and abduct the Englishman from the Mafia(!), demanding Franca's release in exchange for Harrison. That's exactly what he does (killing three Mafiosi along the way), and soon Giancarlo and trussed-up Harrison are crawling around the countryside in a Fiat, Giancarlo issuing his demands from pay phones. Meantime, the Italian authorities and British representatives debate the morality/ practicality of giving in to terrorists (will they just sacrifice poor Harrison?). . . while Harrison's lonely wife falls prey to her apparent nymphomania, is gang-raped by some beach gigolos, and dies a B-movie death. This melodramatic subplot is just one of the signs that Seymour has extended his one-twist story at least 100 pages beyond its ideal length; there's also the cornily stretched-out clue that finally leads the cops (and a mildly heroic agent from Harrison's company) to a showdown at the Giancarlo hideout. Still, Seymour's prose is a cut above that of most terrorist fiction-eers, and there are a dozen or so taut action/ psychology moments among the generally routine goings-on. So: solid, intelligent, but rather draggy suspense fare that will win more than a few extra readers for its headline-echoing portrait of captor and hostage in close quarters.

Pub Date: Feb. 25, 1979

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Summit/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1979

Categories: FICTION