Publisher's Synopsis
AN AVIATION THRILLER OF UNPARALLED SUSPENSE
THE PLAYERS: a former KGB agent; a prominent member of the French political elite; his ravishing young daughter; a no-nonsense NTSB air crash investigator; the retired Paris Bureau Chief of the New York Times; her Parisian neighbor, a young American around whose "lacking virtues" she builds a journalistic conspiracy. THE EVENTS: an international crime spree that brings down Boeing passenger jets wherever they fly; a mystery without precedent that paralyzes the industrial world; a steamy cross-cultural romance that begins as journalistic espionage; a tangle of sex and secrets that exposes what police and government investigations have missed; and an emotional conclusion whose intensity few psychological thrillers can match.
LACKING VIRTUES is a gripping page-turner and more. It creates in fantasy a realistic portrait of a post-Soviet spy using the tools of his trade to exploit the free markets of the capitalist world. No matter how many books on military intelligence, international crime, murder and mystery you have read, this is one you won't forget.
EDITORIAL REVIEWS: The Critics on Kirkwood's Writing
"Solid tension, sudden danger, fierce action . . . catches fire." -- Kirkus Reviews
"A moving love story as well as a novel filled with action and suspense ... strong sympathetic characters ... Thomas Kirkwood is a writer to get excited about." -- Rocky Mountain News
"Nail-biting . . . Perfect!!" -- Norfolk Virginian Pilot
"Powerful ... Truly riveting!" -- Chattanooga News-Free Press
"A bubbling thriller . . . The tension builds." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Suspense and intrigue ... A classic adventure." -- Mobile Press Register
"Wryly drawn characters...absorbing."-- Kirkus Reviews
"Tense drama...spectacular."-- St. Louis Post Dispatch
"Riveting and fascinating."-- Lerner Newspapers
"An absorbing tale...the stuff of which movies are made."-- Rocky Mountain News
"Crackles ... a rousing good job." -- Akron Beacon-Journal
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
"Great story!!! This story could have come straight out of the news this century. The storyline is on target, the characters are believable, and you will automatically choose sides. You love them or you hate them. Great Read for all who love a great mystery."
"This book was interesting, fast paced, and full of suspense. I couldn't put it down, and I was on the edge of my seat until the last page! I'd love to see this book made into a movie."
"With just the right blend of sexy, espionage, politics, and international, long-standing grudges, Lacking Virtues delivers on all fronts."
"Wonderful plot, exciting adventure! Action that keeps you riveted. Do NOT miss this book. Characters are on point."
OPTIONED FOR THE SCREEN BY TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX
