The Midnight Club

January 1, 1989
Edgar-winner Patterson ( The Jericho Commandment )he is also chairman of J. Walter Thompson USAalmost captures the slick, conspiracy-theory giddiness of pre- Prizzi Richard Condon. While leading a raid against top drug-dealer Alexandre (``the Grave Dancer'') St.-Germain, New York police Lieutenant John (``Stef'') Stefanovitch is caught in a devastating ambush and crippled. French-born St.-Germain, enforcing and enjoying his harsh, ``street law'' terror, kills Stef's wife. Two years later St.-Germain is gunned down in a posh Manhattan brothel. Hidden videotapes catch St.-Germain asking, ``Is it the Midnight Club?'' Wheelchair-bound Stef, with true-crime bestselling writer Sarah McGinniss, starts to uncover an international crime cartel making billions a year, and a secret NYPD execution squad. Plenty of gore, many plot twistssome quite murkyand a little sex will keep readers turning pages up to the melodramatic, rather unlikely ending. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo; author tour.