THE HUNT FOR ROMANOV

Politics and vengeance collide in a sordid tale of intrigue, espionage and duplicity.

Hawkins’ breezy tale opens with Simon Falkner, Los Angeles-based chief of staff to Democratic congressman and California governor-hopeful Malcolm Abbott, staking out a rented apartment where Abbott enjoys an ongoing illicit affair with wealthy Republican socialite Gina Sherwood. Falkner’s attempting to run damage control for his boss, whose careless dalliance could sink his political aspirations. Since it was Falkner who successfully brought Abbott back from possible defeat when he was up for congressional election, he has no intentions of squandering that victory. Meanwhile, billionaire financier Redmond York, Abbott’s increasingly unstable adversary, and his gay lover Joseph Vernor hatch a plan to derail the futures of both Falkner and Abbott, amassing detrimental evidence exposing York’s criminal CIA activities and a possible money-laundering scheme. Three assassins emerge at York’s beck and call, while Falkner insinuates himself into the lives of the slinky, sexy Sherwood to garner information on her next move, as well as those of dastardly duo York and Vernor–just as the gubernatorial election nears. When both York and Falkner’s detective partner Frank McAuliffe turn up dead, buzz about a bloodthirsty assassin emerges along with a few imposing, unsavory characters, including one from Falkner’s past, and the ever-illusive “Romanov.” Did Vernor kill his lover for the inheritance money? Does Abbott’s dutiful wife Mary Beth harbor a vendetta against her husband? Hawkins has readers on their toes by remarkably keeping all these melodramatic plot points spinning collectively. But the narrative sacrifices crucial character development in favor of some overblown (but often effective) superspy hijinks. It results in a good, quick read, but one which will do little for the form.

Entertaining, if a bit conventional.