The Final Addiction

Even the bare bones of a Condon novel ( Prizzi's Honor ) are baroque. Hot dog firm sales manager Owney Hazman, 28, has been pining for his mother since she left him when he was nine. Little does he know that his missing mom is his acquaintance Oona Noon, who has a thick Gullah accent and a wimpy GOP presidential contender husband, Osgood. Oona finances Osgood's campaign with profits from her cocaine-smuggling business, recruiting the unsuspecting Owney to act as her go-between--and making him the target of vicious spies from 10 countries. Owney discovers her true identity only after one of her supertankers spills its cargo of coke. Ballast, claims Oona as the plot really starts to spin. The end may seem to be a large shaggy dog but Condon's satirical eye is as wickedly sharp as ever. There are laughs galore, and at least one per page will be bitter. $60,000 ad/promo. (Sept.)