A retired spy is called back into the fray as a piano player for a Panamanian resort with enigmatic clientele in this debut thriller.
"Very well done indeed: sophisticated, witty, suspenseful, and perceptive. . . . [The author] appears to have a firm grasp of what makes his reluctant spy tick, and readers will leave the novel primed for another John Harper adventure." — Booklist
WANTED: Private firm seeks former military personnel for overseas assignment. Must be proficient in firearms and explosives. Experience in special operations a plus. Successful candidate must also play piano. $1.5K/day. Compensation package includes death benefits to next of kin.
John Harper is the most reluctant spy in the history of the craft. He's retired, quit, run in from the cold, traded in his gun for a Steinway baby grand, and settled comfortably into D.C., where the only dangers are jealous husbands and underdone hors d'oeuvres. But men who know how to handle Gershwin and a Glock are rare, and when a Panamanian resort hotel advertises for a piano player with lethal skills, the government sends Harper into the twisted company of American mercenaries, camera-shy Colombians, and a revolution set for New Year's Eve, when Harper is scheduled to play his farewell performance before the fireworks begin.
With a unique blend of Stephen Hunter meets Carl Hiassen, Beneath a Panamanian Moon brings long-overdue humor to an often grim genre while crafting a razor-sharp thriller that's fast, funny, and unforgettable . . .
"[A] humorous debut thriller spiced with exciting commando action. . . . The Canal Zone years after the blitz to grab Noriega is a superb setting, and the solid supporting cast includes the deadly and efficient Phil "Mad Dog" Ramirez, who could play Hawk to Harper's Spenser for many entertaining novels to come." — Publishers Weekly

David Terrenoire