An ex-marine must stop a dangerous arms dealer before he kills again in this high-action thriller from New York Times bestselling author David Morrell. Morrell's latest thriller is a vast improvement over his disappointing last book, Double Image. Ex-Marine Chase Malone has become a well-respected artist known for his beautiful landscape paintings. Derek Bellasar, a ruthless arms dealer, tries to force Malone to paint a portrait of his wife, Sienna. At first, Malone refuses, but when Jeb Wainwright, a Marine buddy who now works for the CIA, shows up asking for help, Malone relents. It seems that Bellasar commissioned paintings of each of his three wives before they died in mysterious accidents. Can Malone prevent Sienna from following in their footsteps? The characters are interesting, the plot is relentless, and no one excels at writing action scenes like Morrell. Thrillers don't get any better than this. Recommended for public libraries. -Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. Hokey suspense thriller about a tough ex-marine and world-class painter (think Rambo-Rembrandt) who risks all for a beautiful woman. So theres Chase Malone leading the good life south of the borderpaintings going for $200,000 perwhen suddenly the snake enters the garden. The snake: international arms merchant Derek Bellasar, who never saw the patch of blue he couldnt discolor. He wants Chase to paint his wife. Naturally, Chase plumps for artistic integrity, saying no to this blatant attempt at undermining his independence. Even though a huge commission is offered for painting one of the most beautiful women in the world, Chase knows what he owes his art. But angering Bellasar is an invitation to big-time trouble. In a trice, local laws get manipulated and unfriendly bulldozers begin taking take dead aim on Chases house, and the gallery doing so well by his canvases gets soldto his nemesis, of course. The message is clear: Whatever Bellasar wants he gets, and all the more fun if its the hard way. At this point enter the CIA with rafts of disquieting information bearing on the bellicose Bellasar. Turns out hes more than just a casual sociopath; he's downright certifiable, intent on murdering Sienna, his wife, once her portrait is finishedthe same fate thats been meted out to three previous wives. To rescue the enchanting Siennaand stymie certain nefarious experiments of a biological natureChase becomes the CIAs man on Bellasars French Rivera estate, seemingly acceding to Bellasars wishes. Careful what you wish for, Bellasar. A standard Morrell performance (Black Evening, 1999, etc.): Sturm und Drang signifying not much. (Film rights to MGM Pictures & Pierce Brosnans production co.) -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. David Morrell is an Edgar and Anthony Award finalist, a Nero and Macavity winner, and recipient of a prestigious career achievement: the ThrillerMaster award from the International Thriller Writers. He has written more than twenty-five works of fiction, which have been translated into thirty languages. He is also a former literature professor at the University of Iowa and received his PhD from Pennsylvania State University.