cover image Stay

Stay

Victor Gischler. St. Martin’s/Dunne, $24.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-250-04151-7

Edgar-finalist Gischler (Gun Monkeys) offers tornado-paced shoot-’em-up action in this can’t-put-it-down thriller. After the Army sends former Solo Ops officer David Sparrow home to suburbia to recuperate from deadly assignments that he’s never revealed to his wife, Amy, David more or less happily settles into a domestic routine. Then Amy, a newly appointed New York City deputy DA, inherits the fearful job of prosecuting crime boss Dante Payne. Of course, Payne hates anyone who thwarts him, and he engineers vicious goon squad attacks on Amy and her family, against which David mounts a ferocious killing-machine defense. David must also contend with a terrorist hell-bent on personal vengeance, but fortunately he can rely on old Army buddies, friendly computer wizards, and former spook handlers for help. Amid the mayhem, Gischler provides plenty of comic relief, including a hotel full of drunken Shriners. TV rights have been sold to CBS. Agent: David Hale Smith, Inkwell Management. (June)