Add the name of Robert Ferrigno to the short, but growing, list of American fiction-crime authors who enrich contemporary literature. I was introduced to Ferrigno with his latest, and fifth novel, HEART BREAKER, published by Pantheon.

I didn't leave the house last Sunday until the roller coaster ride with his protagonist, undercover cop Val Duran, was finally settled.

Duran is the ultimate Mr. Toughguy, who is as close to being on the wrong side of the law as a detective-hero could be. But whatever side of the law he finds himself, he's always on the side of the angels. Duran is in flight from Miami to L.A., and hot on his heels is a racketeer named Junior. The twist here is that Junior was Val's main man, while the latter was infiltrating the mob. He also hooks up with an apparently understanding woman, whose family troubles is a second plot, one that weaves into a nice fit with the first plot, until the mishegas all comes together.

The dialogue is filled with macho one-liners. It's like watching a Robert Mitchum movie, and the twists and turns provides more than the usual number of surprises. You can be assured that no one rides into the sunset.

What makes it work is author Ferrigno's wit and style. HEART BREAKER is a pip.