I tossed this one on the 'Never Again!' pile by page 28. Coonts's depiction of Hong Kong, even in the book's brief opening sequence, is so riddled with inaccuracies and ignorance that's it's painful to read. ( )

Fairly run of the mill thriller, set, obviously, in Hong Kong. Eighth in the Jake Grafton series of adventures, faring much better than his obvious famous role model Jack Ryan by Clancy there is little chance of Jake making President, which means the stories can focus on what Coonts is good at. Overall it's not anywhere near as Tom Clancy's best works, but it is far far better than Tom's worst.

Disturbing rumours hve reached the US government about the possibility of the US consol in Hong Kong using government facilties to aid revolutionaries overthrowing the Communist reigime (set in 2000, 3 years after the English returned the colony to Chinese rule). The send over the now Admiral Jake Grafton and his wife Callie who is fortunetly fluent in Chinese. At the ambassedor's party one of Jakes staffers CIA agent Tommy, discovers the local FixItMan Bob China shot dead in his office - Tommy removes the secret surveillance tape, none the wiser as o who killed him. Meanwhile Jake discovers that the Consol in question is his old Bombadier from the Vietnamese days Vigil 'Tiger' Cole.

Initally it's much better than the ending, there's a certain amound of creeping around buildings, and unlikely snooping plus the usual setting the scene - which for Hong Kong is fairly well done, unlike the characterisations of the Chinese people themselves. One quickly suspects that Coonts has never been to mainland china or even talked to anyone who lives there. For 2000 the communist ruling dictate is also very badly overdone, but in these enlightened times it must be hard for thriller writers to cme up with a convincing political enemy.

Events hot up and Jake realises he and his wife may be caught up in something much deeper than either of them expected. Unfortunetly this is where the plot starts coming unravelled. The import of high tech fanciful american military hardwarre stretches the credulity, and while initially entertaining it quickly bogs down into farce. Any sense of suspense that is supposed to be entertained is quickly lost as things become ludicrous.

Initially quite good, especially the descriptions of Hong Kong, it's let down by a very poor ending.

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