Stone Dancer

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Even though this far-flung, fast-moving second novel features a higher body count and more betrayals than most Jacobean melodramas, Smith's control of his narrative remains impeccable throughout. The SIS's David Jardine, returning from the author's first spy thriller (Devil's Juggler) but newly plucked from the field and relegated to a desk job, is called to Beirut by his top agent there, only to be kidnapped by the Mossad. The Israelis tip him to two ex-agents (Mossad and KGB) who are running ever more grandiose financial scams with the ultimate goal of wrecking a major world currency. Complicating matters are some betrayals: Jardine's agent (and former lover) Alisha Abdul-Fetteh is doubling for the Israelis, and his boss, Sir Steven McCrae, wants to sack him. The plot focuses alternately on Jardine (who travels to Russia and New York) and the criminal masterminds (who visit St. Petersburg, Sicily, Washington, Fort Knox and New York), with the action climaxing in a bloody cliffhanger set in a Manhattan loft. In the shadows are the Mossad, the KGB, the new Russian mafia and a group of old Communist hardliners, each with its own agenda and each portrayed as vividly as are the scenic backdrops. Even minor characters have terrific bios here; one British spy who aids Jardine is described as ``Renfield, to Jardine's Count Dracula.'' Other touches of humor add to the satisfying fun, but the compelling and appealing center of this very fine thriller remains Jardine, a bit of a scamp but suave, brave, ruthless and smart-just what 007 would like to be if he ever grew up. BOMC alternate selection; major ad/promo. (Nov.)

Library Journal

During the 1980s, there were many popular novels describing financial heists and scams. Smith's (The Devil's Juggler, LJ 3/1/93) second novel captures the piratical essense of these insouciant tales, adds the treacherous veneer of today's espionage affairs, and comes up with a geopolitical thriller of irreproachable entertainment. A courtly British spymaster gets wind of a series of counterfeits and frauds carried out against banks, corporations, and governments. Tugging gently on the subtle clues, he eventually predicts a colossal coup whose target is the U.S. Treasury. Ducking and weaving among the agents of Israel, Beirut, the Sicilian mafia, and various U.S. bodies, the good guys don't always stay ahead of the bad guys, and the action moves with white-hot intensity. Masters like Len Deighton and John le Carr had better look to their laurels; Smith's assault on bestsellerdom seems like a sure thing. For all popular collections.-Barbara Conaty, Library of Congress

Emily Melton

Smith's debut novel, "Devil's Juggler" (1993), received glowing reviews for its gripping plot and exciting climax. But as often happens, Smith's second effort is slightly less impressive, although still good. It's a quintessential spy story, with clandestine meetings, crosses and double-crosses, false drops, international intrigue, and even some romance. The hero, Brit David Jardine, is good at his job and as tough, smart, and fearless as a good spy should be. The plot involves a disgruntled former Mossad agent and an ex-KGB thug who plan to combine some dazzling computer sleight-of-hand with a counterfeiting scheme to raid the U.S. Treasury, bring the U.S. economy crashing down, and restore Russia to its pre-Yeltsin glory. Jardine teams up with smart, attractive Treasury legal eagle Nancy Lucco to head off the disaster. This one's got the requisite thrills for an espionage novel, though it's a little light on subtlety. Still, it's a good choice for hard-core spy fans.