ANGELA

by J.H. Hull ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1987

First-novelist Hull spins a yarn in which a kidnapping plot concocted by terrorists and the Mafia is undone by the sexual awakening--and consequent ""unbrainwashing""--of a big-bosomed terrorist. A Mafia boss, a nasty little barnacle named Lazetti, finances an Italian terrorist group to kidnap Admiral ""Red"" Reeding, US Commander of the Mediterranean fleet. Lazetti is in it only for the ransom money, while the secret agenda of the terrorists is to wire the yacht to blow up the aircraft carrier Kennedy, at anchor off Palma. Lazetti orders a trio of terrorists to pirate a charter yacht from a Palermo marina, along with its young American skipper, Pete (who owes Lazetti money in a murky subplot). They pick up the admiral from a flapping helicopter, and then the whole plot breaks down like a rotten dock. Yacht-skipper Pete does in one of the bungling terrorists and goes after another one of them named Angela--a blond American bombshell who has turned traitor, talks dirty, and packs a submachine gun. He shivers her timbers in bed, however. Angela gets away with the admiral at Palma de Mallorca, leaving Pete all alone to save the Kennedy. He meets up with her later in a Palma bar, where he learns that he has unleashed a strong, delayed resurgence of patriotism. He even agrees to make her pregnant--though first they must rescue the admiral and wipe out Lazetti and a whole attendant nest of Mafia vipers. The author tries to keep this top-heavy rig sailing with gusts of mano a mano humor. But, despite a sensual Mediterranean setting, an aircraft carrier, a yacht, a helicopter, and bags of nautical and nubile details, it doesn't float.

Pub Date: April 1, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Richardson & Steirman--dist. by Kampmann (9 East 40 St., New York, NY 10016)

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1987

Categories: FICTION