Train Man    by P. T. Deutermann Order:  USA  Can St. Martin's, 2001 (1999) Paperback, Audio Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Bridges across the Mississippi appear to be the target of a terrorist attack. Someone is efficiently blowing them up as trains are crossing, with a resulting huge disruption to the U.S. transportation network. FBI Assistant Director Hush Hanson is put in charge of the investigation with Senior Agent Carolyn Lang seconded to him. Hush is at the same time attracted to Carolyn and suspicious of her motives. She is the one who deduces that their target is an individual, not a terrorist group. Unfortunately the Trainman, as he is quickly dubbed, is in the process of executing a plan long in the making, to revenge the death of his wife and children at a train crossing. He is very well organized and difficult to identify. In the background to the hunt, corporate politics drive the Bureau at least as much as the desire to catch the Trainman. After a plane crash leaves them with a burning hot potato, the army decides to send a volatile and perilous cargo West by train through populated areas. Of course all these elements meld together, along with the predictable touch of romance between the agents. The characters are fairly interesting and the plot unusual and complex enough to be intriguing. However the author lingers for much of the story over engineering details of trains and bridges, slowing down the action. If you enjoy both the technical stuff and details of political infighting amongst and within law enforcement units then you'll like Train Man. I found it disappointing compared to some of the author's previous works, though the ending at least is explosive. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews