Olcott, Anthony

New York. 1992. Scribner's. 1st American Edition. Very Good in Dustjacket. 0684194066. 245 pages. hardcover. Jacket illustration by Bohdan Osyczka. keywords: Mystery Russia . FROM THE PUBLISHER - Transitional chaos throughout the former Soviet Union gives rise to narrative confusion in this disappointing tale of intrigue, set amid the oil fields of Kazakhstan. Shortly after the brutal robbery and murder of his wife, Ivan Duvakin leaves Moscow for the barren desert of Novii Uzen on assignment for the Russian minister of energy. A conspicuous foreigner sent to topple the city's powerful boss, Duvakin finds himself in a precarious, dangerous position: the breakup of the union has led to a deadly power struggle for control of the region's oil, and Duvakin's predecessor has been murdered. Duvakin tiresomely bluffs his way through the novel, trying unsuccessfully to figure out what he should do and why he was sent. Aside from some clever similes, Olcott ( Murder at the Red October ) writes dreary, careless prose that generates little suspense and glosses over some potentially interesting characters. Despite the unusual setting, there is little here for any but die-hard fans of the previous Duvakin novels. - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY. inventory #16624 ISBN: 0684194066.