(8.00)343 pages.
Why is Steadfast Haynes being buried at Arlington? He was never in the military. In fact, there's no proof he ever worked for the CIA. But someone has pulled some strings… or made some threats…
Enter Granville Haynes, Steady's son and spitting image, who discovers he's inherited the rights to his father's memoirs. Bidding for which has already begun. But he knows the manuscript is blank!
Could this have something to do with Tinker Burns, arms merchant and former associate of Steady? Or Isabelle Gelinet, foreign correspondent and Steady's partner – or lover? What of Gilbert Undean, the retired spy who seems to know all about what happened in Southeast Asia during the war? And Hamilton Keyes, the CIA manager at the end of his career, with a rich wife, who just wants to protect the Agency?
Not to mention high-priced lawyer Howard Mott, who is now advising Granville; and a certain nearby pub, Mac's Place, where the ambiance is always twilight, where Padillo and McCorkle run the place and have connections everywhere.
This is sometimes considered the fourth novel in the Mac McCorkle series, although it is set decades after the previous novels, and McCorkle (with his partner Padillo) is not the lead character. However, McCorkle's recent college graduate daughter, Erika, does play a major role.
I previously reviewed the third novel in the series, and it is interesting to see how the author's style changed from 1971 to 1990. This book is longer, with more narrative and character development, less clever banter, more suspense and mystery, less action but still keeps the reader turning the pages. Still the same laconic humor.
My only criticism is that the novel ends with a twist which, while it seems reasonable, never gives the author an opportunity to tie up the loose ends.
Can you wargame it? There's one gunfight that might inspire a scenario, but this is mostly a plot about murders and mystery.
I enjoyed the novel, though the ending left me wanting more explanation. Nice to see the old characters once more, in their 'Alzheimer' years (that's a quip from the book). Even if they are not the main characters, McCorkle and Padillo are deeply intwined with the plot and characters.
The book is no longer 'in print', but is available in digital format.
Reviewed by 
Editor in Chief Bill 
.