Show Me a Hero

With a plot torn somewhat unconvincingly from today's headlines, Coppel's latest thriller centers on a hostage rescue mission into the Libyan desert. Frustrated at the inability of the U.S. government to gain the freedom of our ambassador to Lebanon and his staff, America's most popular actor, Harry Redding, decides to fund a rescue, a la H. Ross Perot. Under the guise of a World War II epic being filmed in Tunisia, Redding hires Maj. K. C. Quary, an Army assault specialist, to lead the operation by and organize the force that will strike into Libya, where the hostages are being held near a Russian-staffed nuclear facility. With the assistance of a suspiciously secretive Israeli, Quary gathers an army of soldiers for hire and sets off for the desert, undeterred by numerous obstacles. If Coppel (34 East, The Dragon fails to ignite his material until the book is well underway, the final assault is both convincing and exciting, and the climax satisfyingly explosive. 100,000 first printing; $75,000 ad/promo. (March 20)