Lori Andrews, The Silent Assassin

The Silent Assassin

Lori Andrews

St. Martin's, May 2007, $23.95, 304 pp.

ISBN 0312352719

Dr. Alexandra Blake works at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology where she uses her knowledge of genetics to find bio-terror vaccines. She is also sometimes called upon to use her medical skills when a situation occurs. When the corpse of a man who died from a bayonet is brought to AFIP, Alexandria is able to tell that he recently returned from Vietnam. Further investigation reveals that he successfully brokered a deal where Vietnam would sell the U.S. oil reserves, something that was important to the president who saw it as a way of healing wounds between the two countries.

American soldiers stationed in Nam when returning home sometimes brought back Vietnamese skulls with them. Now, in a special White House ceremony, the items are being returned to the Vietnamese government. In one of the skulls, Alexandra finds a note saying that Americans conducted a massacre. Someone breaks into Alexandria's home while she is sleeping and tries to kill her before getting away and her office is ransacked. Her superiors believe it is her knowledge of the massacre that is causing someone to want her dead but the truth is much more explosive.

Although this is only Lori Andrews' second fiction book, her work is reminiscent of Patricia Cornwall novels. The heroine is a strong-willed, caring individual who doesn't hesitate to do what she believes is the right thing. She refuses to be intimidated by those who want to kill her and although she can't see the conspiracy at the highest level of government, when the time comes, she makes a decision and acts on it, knowing if things go wrong she could end up in jail or worse.

Harriet Klausner