White Crow

In Lyon's fast-paced, gripping first novel, a federal forestry expert innocently strays into the path of the KGB. Before leaving for a conference in Spain, Arnold Kent is asked by the State Department to ``do an errand'' in Rome and try to determine who is stalling the relocation of a U.S. navy base. A KGB plant in State's Italy desk assumes that Kent is really working for the CIA and takes steps to have the ``white crow'' killed. Through an improbable bit of serendipity at Kennedy Airport, Kent learns that he had best be wary during his trip, and his fears are rapidly borne out. These events occur in the first chapter; the 18 that follow are crammed with exciting action. Helped by a Spanish woman working for the U.S. embassy, Kent is involved in the killing of three KGB agents--just for starters. But besides surviving, Kent must find out why the Soviets desperately want him dead, and this requires that he remain within their deadly reach. Among the book's highlights are scenes involving an overachieving KGB colonel or his vicious female aide. Readers will root for Kent as eagerly as they will await the fulfillment of his promise to return and make Korolenko pay. (Nov.)