‘The Deceivers’ Is A Likeable Thriller

“The Deceivers” by Harold Robbins and Junius Podrug, 2008, Forge, $25.95/$28.95 Canada, 336 pages: In this economy, it happens too often. Now it’s happened to you.
You lost your job.
You think you can find another one quick, but pretty soon you’re downsizing. Restaurant meals are first to go; the nice house and big vehicle, next. Your lifestyle shrinks in direct proportion to what’s in your dwindling savings account. What would you do to save yourself?
Art expert Madison Dupree agrees to a job that will get her back on her feet within weeks. In the new novel “The Deceivers” by Harold Robbins and Junius Podrug, the job also will put her in danger, in a place where no one can save her.
Not long ago, Maddy Dupree had it all: a penthouse in Manhattan, a luxury car, lobster every night, champagne and jewels, and a job that let her rub elbows with high society and people who knew and loved art.
But that’s in the past now. An arrest for an accidental role in an antiquities smuggling scheme left her reputation in tatters, her life in turmoil and her job gone. Maddy wonders now where she’ll get the money to pay the rent on her newly-rented glorified walk-in closet.
Then salvation comes in the form of a Thai delivery bag.
The exquisite carving looks like authentic Khmer art as Sammy the delivery guy pulls it out of the bag.  Maddy is eager to get her hands on it but upon careful inspection, she knows it’s a fake. Still, she can make money on the faux art if she can find the right, rich client. Before she can question Sammy, he bolts from her apartment.
But the cops are already involved, and, given Maddy’s accidentally shady past, they offer her a deal: if she’ll help Cambodia’s Prince Ranar catch whoever’s smuggling precious ancient art out of his country, the charges will be dropped, Maddy will get paid and her debts will be forgiven. She can start fresh with a new life. 
She’ll have to infiltrate the smuggling ring, though, and she’ll have to dig up evidence. And she’s got to go to Cambodia – former stronghold of the Khmer Rouge, where corruption is still rampant – to do it. But someone doesn’t want Maddy there, and they’ll do anything to make sure she doesn’t get the full picture.
It’s been over 10 years since author Robbins died, but you can clearly see his hand in this book. “The Deceivers” isn’t exactly written in classic “Harold Robbins” style, though; it’s gentler than he would have perhaps told it, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Author Podrug took the stereotypical 1980s big hair, designer gowns, and wealth and power out of the story, for one. While I noticed some annoying repetition in Maddy’s dialogue, Podrug makes her quite likeable. The plot is more approachable, too, which is very refreshing.
More of a mystery-thriller than not, “The Deceivers” should appeal to readers who’ve never read Robbins or Podrug, as well as fans who first loved Robbins 50 years ago. Save yourself from boredom and look for it.

‘RANT’ REVIEW
“Waiter Rant” by The Waiter, 2008, Ecco Books, $24.95/$26.95 Canada, 302 pages: You’re hungry. Your stomach’s been talking about it for 20 minutes. You would’ve chowed down already, but you don’t have a recipe or the ingredients for what you crave. And since that delish dish always tastes better at the restaurant, you might as well go out, right?
Unless you’re eating in your car (20 percent of all meals are eaten in the car) or having fast food (half of us do, at least twice a week) your dining starts with an escort tableside, a menu and an order given to someone who brings your meal to you. In the new book “Waiter Rant” by The Waiter, you’ll read about years spent in a restaurant, with and without reservations.
Maybe you’ve been served by The Waiter. If not, you’ve been served by someone like him. He doesn’t give you many clues about his identity, other than that he works in Manhattan. His friends know who he is, but he prefers anonymity.
Maybe you’ve read The Waiter’s Web site. There, he writes about his life in the restaurant. The customers he serves. The jerks he’s had the misfortune to wait on. Other waiters and kitchen staff. People whose stories unfold at a window-seat table, small drama in big city, unnoticed by everyone but The Waiter.
He writes about the young couple with their heads together, quietly deciding to start a family as The Waiter discreetly watched. He tells about Mother’s Day debacles and why you should never tell the maitre d’ that you’re a “friend of the owner.” He writes about small kindnesses to those who are homeless and hungry. He remembers favorite customers and the people who made him grit his teeth. And he explains why you should always, always tip generously.
Why would a man stay at a job that aggravated him so? The Waiter wonders that often in his book. Waiting tables and managing a restaurant wasn’t a difficult job. It gave him plenty of time off, which allowed him to write and to develop his Web site. But when the job began to turn sour and The Waiter became bitter, he decided he’d like it to go – permanently.
What’s your favorite restaurant?  If you enjoy eating there, you’ll love sinking your teeth into this well-done memoir.
I truly enjoyed this book, not just because I love a good story, but because this book is an eyebrow-raising, I-can’t-believe-anybody-would-do-that, job-voyeur’s dream.
The Waiter – who isn’t so anonymous any more, thanks to TV appearances and media interviews for this book – writes bluntly and with a cynic’s eye. He’s not afraid to tell stories about cut-throat cooks, fellow waitstaff and lots of in-kitchen fighting. He dishes up tales of despicable diners, rude restaurant-goers and a few favorite customers who obviously made the job less painful. I liked his tone, I liked his anecdotes and I liked this rant.
No matter which side of the guest check you’re on the next time you go to a restaurant, here’s a tip: put “Waiter Rant” on your reading menu. It’s a tasty little dish.

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER has been reading since she was 3 years old and never goes anywhere without a book.