Lords of the North Con Ed Matthew Klein Warner ISBN 0-446-57955-6 $23.99

Matthew Klein has done several things well in his novel Con Ed. He's created a sympathetic main character with a good sense of humor. He's created believable bad guys and minor characters. And finally, he's plotted and produced a thoroughly enjoyable novel that has the right mix of tension, sex, violence and humor to keep the reader turning pages. Kip Largo was a con man. Not that he wanted to be. He got caught. He did his time. Now, he's an ex-con ex con-man. Like most of us he's trying to get by, following the rules. Like some of us, events overtake him. Kip's out is to run a con. Expect twists and turns in plot. Expect to be fooled as a result. Expect to be highly entertained. The inside flap will tell you the story line. Don't read it. Just let yourself be carried along for the ride. Con's are fun when it isn't you being conned. You'll have fun with Con Ed.

Dave Biemann