This is an enjoyable thriller by the author of "Prince of the City". The strength of the book lies in the complexity of the plot, but the weakness lies in the characters, which are not all that likable. Notwithstanding that, the storyline kept me turning the pages.

There are basically two stories in the book, which eventually become intertwined. One is about thirty-three year old Jack Hilger, an NYPD detective, who is a bit of a loose cannon and on the outs with the police department. The other is about French police Inspector Madeleine Leclerq, who works in Nice and is having a bit of a tough time competing in what is essentially still a man's world.

Jack is on the trail of a drug dealer who buys expensive artwork by old masters, while Madeleine is fighting political corruption in her back yard, becoming a persona non grata. Neither is able to hoe the road alone. So, when their paths cross on the French Riviera, they will unite forces against a common enemy. Where this union will take them will keep the reader riveted, due to the labyrinthine plot twists.