WHEN teacher Christian Kestner gets a letter saying an old acquaintance from Georgia is coming to visit, he begins to worry. Because seven years ago on a business trip, Christian had a bit of a snog and a grope with David Ninochvili s wife. Has David fou

WHEN teacher Christian Kestner gets a letter saying an old acquaintance from Georgia is coming to visit, he begins to worry.

Because seven years ago on a business trip, Christian had a bit of a snog and a grope with David Ninochvili's wife.

Has David found out and is he coming to seek revenge?

Is he KGB? Is he conspiring with one of the factions vying for control of his country as it is torn apart by civil war following the break-up of the Soviet Union?

Christian prides himself on being a liberal, but once David arrives and as his feelings of guilt gnaw away at him, fear turns to panic and he becomes almost as prejudiced as the neo-Nazi he so detests, who is influencing his son.

David's Revenge (�7.99, Bitter Lemon) is a psychological thriller, which starts slowly, but gradually tightens its grip as Christian cracks up, even suspecting his former East German wife of being a KGB sleeper.

A marvellous study of how one man's imagination and neuroses almost destroy his world.

Author Hans Werner Kettenbach published his first book at the age of 50, having held a variety of jobs. Five of his crime novels have been made into films.

- LINDSAY JONES