‘False Impression’ makes for impressive action

“False Impression,” by Jeffrey Archer, is set in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.

Anna, the heroine, escapes by hurrying down the stairs as she and many others are urged to do. Her employer, Bruce Fenston, escapes, too. When his assistant finds a spare room in an unscathed building, they can proceed with their occupation.

Their occupation is a devious one. He deals in art masterpieces, considering buying them from owners who need huge loans from his bank.

He has a hired assassin who proceeds to kill the owner so that Bruce can steal the art and even more of the estate.

Anna needs a man, who is Jack Delaney from the FBI, who knows that Bruce is a crook and thinks Anna may join in his wicked business. When he learns more about her, he realizes that she is good. The reader is happy to have Jack following her so that he will be available to save her from the eventual attack of the assassin.

Anna is a pro at art, with a magnificent memory of every museum, every catalog, every collection, which makes her an invaluable employee. Her job is to travel to inspect a masterpiece that her boss might consider collateral on a loan. While she is visiting a castle, he decides to get rid of her because she is too honest.

Archer describes the terror and misery of 9/11 vividly as well as some wild driving in Bucharest and chasing the assassin in England.