The Reunion

June 10, 2002
TV journalist Autry weaves an unlikely, but intriguing, tale of espionage, murder and suspense in this enjoyable first novel centering on the crew members of a German U-boat sunk off the North Carolina coast in 1942 who were interned at a camp in Oklahoma. The publication of a book about the sinking and crew's capture leads the few survivors to plan a reunion some 60 years later, but the surrounding publicity has an unnerving side effect when someone starts bumping the old men off. A discredited FBI agent, Martin Dunlevy, and Carolyn Baker, a young mother in search of her biological parents, form an odd couple seeking to uncover the long-hidden secret that makes these aged seamen a killer's target. The author introduces his ruthless assassin in the book's opening pages, but manages to keep the reason for the murders concealed while Baker's personal search and Dunlevy's professional one begin to merge. There are perhaps too many stories here—the fate of the U-boat's crew, the assassin's trail of death, a current political campaign involving a prominent Rhode Island family, and more. A 10-month-old baby is just so much excess baggage in the plot, while in the end Autry fails to establish a convincing motive for the killer. These relatively minor flaws, however, don't detract from the strong suspense and action elements, which make this mystery debut a natural candidate for film treatment. (June 30)FYI:The author is the television news anchor at station WRLH in Richmond, Va.

July 15, 2002
Survivors of a German U-boat sunk off the coast of North Carolina and the men who captured them hold an unlikely reunion 60 years later in the town of Beaufort, NC. For some unfathomable reason, however, someone is trying to kill them all. The author/professor responsible for the meeting may hold the clues police and the FBI need in his voluminous notes - but then he, too, dies. Luckily, coded messages discovered by the grown illegitimate daughter of a survivor prove crucial. Sturdy prose, rising tension, and plausible plotting recommend this title to readers who enjoy spy stories, historical fiction, or just a good mystery. First-time author Autry is an award-winning broadcast journalist.

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.