FICTION : GOOD FRIDAY by Robert Lawrence Holt (Aero: $14.95; 224 pp.).

Although noticeably superior to his first effort at adventure writing (co-authorship of the blessedly ephemeral “Sweetwater: Gunslinger 201”), this novel of mayhem, maneuvering and muckup in Saudi Arabia remains pretty awful and penny dreadful. Holt still has not learned the difference between literary dialogue and pasty transcript. His characters are silhouettes speaking platitudes. Yet there are signs (one chapter where Saudis use their luxury cars to ram and batter landing Soviet jets and troops invading King Khalid International Airport) that Holt is learning to craft images and see real emotions and in that, recognition of “Good Friday” just might extend to next Tuesday.