THE KILL ARTIST

Now that relations with our ex-Cold War foes are somewhat more warm and fuzzy, what's the writer of an international thriller to do? Silva, in his fourth novel, comes up with a snazzy solution, pitting a Zionist assassin against a fervent Palestinian killer. While the two chase each other around the globe, Silva -- who has clearly done his homework -- manages to present both sides of the Arab/Israeli conflict without slowing down the novel's frenetic pace. A dramatic showdown introducing Yasir Arafat as a speaking character seems a bit over-the-top, but that hiccup aside, Silva offers up pure political popcorn. B+