Sweetheart

Andrew Coburn's The Babysitter was a bestseller; his previous book, Off Duty, was hailed by the New York Times Book Review as "a flawlessly plotted, stylishly written account The rewards are many and exceptional." Now, in Sweetheart, a novel about the Boston Mafia, Andrew Coburn has surpassed himself.

Revenge, the defining motif of this suspenseful tale of crime, is a joyous emotion in the Mafia. It figures in their use of tire irons to dismember the killers of the innocent, honored parents of Anthony Gardella, the local capo. And, over cocktails, a more sophisticated vengeance can be sought—by using a Beretta semi-automatic with silencer fired at point blank range.

Police Lieutenant Wade, code name "Sweetheart", has troubles of his own. Wade is recruited by Russell Thurston, and FBI agent of immaculate grooming and soaring ambition, to infiltrate the Gardella family. As shock follows surprise, Wade finds himself caught in a dilemma:...