Burnt Sienna

February 28, 2000
Like his last novel, Double Image, Morrell's robust latest dips into gothic territory as an obsession with beauty leads to lethal extremes. The new novel, however, incorporates more of the uber-thriller elements for which Morrell is known, depicting one decent man's fight against a black-market arms dealer equipped with unlimited funds, political access and a private army. Ex-marine hero Chase Malone has made it big in the art world as a painter, so arms dealer Derek Bellasar asks him to paint a portrait of Bellasar's wife. Malone won't do commission work but Bellasar won't take no for an answer. Soon Malone finds his life in turmoil: his land in Mexico has been sold, his house is scheduled for bulldozing, his favorite restaurant closes and his New York gallery has been bought--by Bellasar. Malone's old Marine buddy, now in the CIA, is after Bellasar for myriad international crimes and begs Malone to spy on the arms dealer. Jeb adds that Bellasar has had three beautiful wives, each of whom died right after having their portrait painted. Malone agrees and is flown to an extravagant mansion and arms-testing range in Nice, where he falls in love with Bellasar's wife, Sienna. The feeling is mutual and the pair plan their escape when Sienna discovers the portraits of previous wives and an even more terrifying secret. Morrell delivers hairpin plot-curves as the lovers make their way to a CIA safe house, only to have Sienna recaptured and Malone left for dead. The mayhem concludes in a pyrotechnic ending with a twist that Morrell's fans will love in spite of the accompanying romantic schmaltz. Foreign agent, Danny Baror. Film rights to Irish Dreamtime Productions; author tour.

February 15, 2000
Morrell's latest thriller is a vast improvement over his disappointing last book, Double Image. Ex-Marine Chase Malone has become a well-respected artist known for his beautiful landscape paintings. Derek Bellasar, a ruthless arms dealer, tries to force Malone to paint a portrait of his wife, Sienna. At first, Malone refuses, but when Jeb Wainwright, a Marine buddy who now works for the CIA, shows up asking for help, Malone relents. It seems that Bellasar commissioned paintings of each of his three wives before they died in mysterious accidents. Can Malone prevent Sienna from following in their footsteps? The characters are interesting, the plot is relentless, and no one excels at writing action scenes like Morrell. Thrillers don't get any better than this. Recommended for public libraries.--Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.

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