Straight Cut

An American film editor is caught up in Europe's drug underworld in a "spare and cinematic" character study by the award-winning author of Soldier's Joy ( Time).   Tracy Bateman eeks out a meager existence as a freelance film editor. Other than alcohol, his closest companion is a dog dying of cancer. And his wife, Lauren, is off with his friend Kevin, who's also his occasional employer. Prospects are grim, but on the day Tracy decides to relieve his dog of his misery, Kevin calls with a job offer.   The pay is double what it should be and would take him to Rome. Tracy suspects there's a side job involving drugs, something he and Kevin have dabbled in before with minimal success. But when Lauren shows up with a suitcase full of cash, he sends her home and decides to finish the job on his own. It will take all of his skill to not end up on the cutting floor.   Praised by Walker Percy as "not only high entertainment, but high pleasure to read," Straight Cut is a "winning novel" that further cements Bell's acclaimed literary reputation ( Time).