OPERATION HEBRON by Eric Jordan - SIGNED FIRST EDITION BOOK

IMG NY: 2000 First edition, first printing, mint, new/unread in a flawless dustjacket, signed by the author.

There's an intriguing premise buried inside this first thriller by an acknowledged former U.S. spy and adviser on terrorism to President Reagan: an Israeli plot to have one of their paid agents elected president of the U.S. Readers will have to dig through layers of stiff writing to get to it, though--as in this early moment, when the prime minister of Israel pops a painkiller and washes it down with half a glass of seltzer: "He would need all his wits to launch the most daring covert political action considered by any Israeli government since the nation's foundation." A page later, the harried leader takes his mind away from his many troubles by watching trees swaying in the breeze outside his Jerusalem office: "`A tranquilizing sight befitting the Holy City,' he thought. `A sight that belies the harsh reality of a land torn by violence.'" Readers who can ignore moments like this on virtually every page will find that the basic plot contains a lot of suspense, as a believably conflicted FBI agent named Brenda Straus has to find out which of the three leading candidates for president is in fact the Israeli agent. Straus's opponents include another well-sketched female character: Jackie Marcovic, a sexy assassin. Of course, the Russians get involved: a Russian president who swills vodka recruits a secret agent named Yuri, who thinks, "Another shadow--that of the Russian bear--is now about to join the dramatic events building around Operation Hebron." This book has the makings of a good novel--strong characters, a solid plot and an air of authority about its subject--and some of the exposition is adequate. But its dialogue? It makes you want to pop a painkiller and swill vodka. (Aug.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information