International zone

"International Zone is a detective/mystery novel set in postwar Vienna. The milieu is that of Graham Greene's The Third Man. The plot centers around a number of characters, many of them refugees from Eastern Europe, struggling to survive in difficult times. The black market, especially involving cigarettes, plays a prominent role. Political intrigue is also important, as representatives of the Russian and Western occupational forces vie for the allegiance of spies and informants. The relationship between personal motivation (survival and greed) and political allegiances is complex. The geography of Vienna is important; the city was split between Eastern and Western zones but also had an "international zone," shared by the occupation forces, which gives the book its title."--BOOK JACKET.