''Every American crime writer of the past 30 years owes a debt to George V Higgins. Higgins is the daddy. Read him and rejoice'' Val McDermid

''This author has the talent to make every word count, ratcheting up the tension as the story unfolds. . . a novel rich in characterisation'' DAILY MAIL

Federal Agent Pete Riordan has two problems, and both of them could end with murder.

Convicted killer Mikey-mike Magro has never made a secret of the fact that if he ever gets out of jail, he''s going to go after the man he thinks put him there, Jerry ''Digger'' Doherty. And now it seems some very influential people are trying to get Magro pardoned and out on the street.

Riordan figures Bishop Paul Doherty, an old friend who also happens to be the Digger''s brother, might put him on the right track - and he might just be able to help him with his second problem too: word is that a man is over from the old country intending to buy arms for the IRA. No one knows his name, or even what he looks like, but Riordan needs to find him fast - or his two problems could come together like a lighted fuse and a stick of gelignite.

''Every American crime writer of the past 30 years owes a debt to George V Higgins. Higgins is the daddy. Read him and rejoice'' Val McDermid

''This author has the talent to make every word count, ratcheting up the tension as the story unfolds. . . a novel rich in characterisation'' DAILY MAIL

Federal Agent Pete Riordan has two problems, and both of them could end with murder.

Convicted killer Mikey-mike Magro has never made a secret of the fact that if he ever gets out of jail, he''s going to go after the man he thinks put him there, Jerry ''Digger'' Doherty. And now it seems some very influential people are trying to get Magro pardoned and out on the street.

Riordan figures Bishop Paul Doherty, an old friend who also happens to be the Digger''s brother, might put him on the right track - and he might just be able to help him with his second problem too: word is that a man is over from the old country intending to buy arms for the IRA. No one knows his name, or even what he looks like, but Riordan needs to find him fast - or his two problems could come together like a lighted fuse and a stick of gelignite.