A tough-talking, slow-playing tale about power and the games men (not women) play with it. The main player is ruthless, successful criminal attorney Jesse Frank. Jesse creates complex deals based on favors done and owed. These are "markers." Counterpoint to Jesse is Mike O Rourke, columnist and man of the people. Mike is the only man who knows how to block Jesse s moves. Zion, biographer of Roy Cohn ( The Autobiography of Roy Cohn , LJ 4/15/88), has clearly been inspired by his previous subject. But what worked well before creates disaster here. His tough-guy tone becomes grating when spouted from the mouth of every single character. The story itself is convoluted, weighted down by detailed descriptions of deals that apparently fascinate the author much more than character or plot. In fact, Markers is, like Cohn s biography, little more than a collection of anecdotes about "deals." The trouble is, in a novel we want more. Not recommended.