DEAD RUN

N.Y.: Random House, 1988. First edition, so stated. Fine in fine dust jacket, not price clipped, in protective mylar cover. His first mystery. "Gibbs, former editor of Yachting magazine, knows the boating world and his first novel reflects it. Young Gillian Verdean's great-uncle Dennis dies of a brutal beating on board the ketch Glory. Dennis's past -- mainly rum and gun-running-- was shady at best and it soon becomes clear that some of his associates are after Glory, which apparently holds a treasure, the nature and whereabouts of which were known only to Dennis. Two arms-suppliers to Col. Qadaffi, the slick Visconti and the nasty Hals, vie to wrest the boat from Gillian. Hals even plants ex-mercenary Patrick O'Mara aboard as a spy, a plan that seems destined for success when hunk O'Mara and Gillian fall into bed. Even the beautiful Emerald, ex-girlfriend of Uncle Dennis, a porn star looking for money to set herself up as a madam, has designs on the ketch. Eventually Gillian, O'Mara, Emerald and rum-soaked skipper Barr join forces to fight the Visconti and Hals faction. Most of the action takes place ashore, but the climax, in a storm off Fire Island, is a bang-up one. " -- Publishers Weekly. First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Near Fine. Book.