Good advice

Frederick Forsyth's new thriller, "The Cobra," reviewed by Patrick Anderson

There's some good writing in "The Cobra," and fans of military adventures may delight in it. Forsyth remains a master of logistics, but the novel's plot is often unconvincing, and the war on cocaine finally becomes a fantasy that spins out of control. After I finished the novel, I picked up "The Dogs of War" (1974), Forsyth's third novel, which I'd never read. It concerns some mercenaries who set out to conquer a small African nation. It's brilliant, fascinating, reminiscent of Ernest Hemingway's work. "The Cobra," by contrast, too often reminded me of Tom Clancy. If you want Forsyth at his best -- which is very, very good -- go back to those early novels.

"The Cobra" is recommended if you just want a little two-dimensional mayhem to clear the air, but we'll be leaving it off the official book list. Nonetheless, the reviewer's advice about "The Dogs of War" is warmly seconded, and of course there's always "The Day of the Jackal."