Burnt Sienna - Hardcover

Morrell, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0446519642 ISBN 13: 9780446519649

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing / Warner, 2000

Synopsis

An ex-marine must stop a dangerous arms dealer before he kills again in this high-action thriller from New York Times bestselling author David Morrell.

About this title

About the Author

David Morrell is an Edgar and Anthony Award finalist, a Nero and Macavity winner, and recipient of a prestigious career achievement: the ThrillerMaster award from the International Thriller Writers. He has written more than twenty-five works of fiction, which have been translated into thirty languages. He is also a former literature professor at the University of Iowa and received his PhD from Pennsylvania State University.

Reviews

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. (Mar.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Hokey suspense thriller about a tough ex-marine and world-class painter (think Rambo-Rembrandt) who risks all for a beautiful woman. So theres Chase Malone leading the good life south of the borderpaintings going for $200,000 perwhen suddenly the snake enters the garden. The snake: international arms merchant Derek Bellasar, who never saw the patch of blue he couldnt discolor. He wants Chase to paint his wife. Naturally, Chase plumps for artistic integrity, saying no to this blatant attempt at undermining his independence. Even though a huge commission is offered for painting one of the most beautiful women in the world, Chase knows what he owes his art. But angering Bellasar is an invitation to big-time trouble. In a trice, local laws get manipulated and unfriendly bulldozers begin taking take dead aim on Chases house, and the gallery doing so well by his canvases gets soldto his nemesis, of course. The message is clear: Whatever Bellasar wants he gets, and all the more fun if its the hard way. At this point enter the CIA with rafts of disquieting information bearing on the bellicose Bellasar. Turns out hes more than just a casual sociopath; he's downright certifiable, intent on murdering Sienna, his wife, once her portrait is finishedthe same fate thats been meted out to three previous wives. To rescue the enchanting Siennaand stymie certain nefarious experiments of a biological natureChase becomes the CIAs man on Bellasars French Rivera estate, seemingly acceding to Bellasars wishes. Careful what you wish for, Bellasar. A standard Morrell performance (Black Evening, 1999, etc.): Sturm und Drang signifying not much. (Film rights to MGM Pictures & Pierce Brosnans production co.) -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing / Warner
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0446519642
• ISBN 13: 9780446519649
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 387