Keith Spence Devil’s Brew

Devil's Brew

Keith Spence

Shadow Line, 2004, $24.95, 292pp.

ISBN:0971287503

Undercover Agent David Jourbet is the CIA's best with an over 95% success rate as opposed to the 80% agency norm. However, he confronts the Chief of Counterintelligence Rutherford Fairchild for sending him on a suicide mission that led to the deaths of innocents. David also knows that Rutherford sold out his country, but lacks proof. When Rutherford scoffs that no one would believe a field agent's accusations against him, David calmly kills him in his office.

CIA Chief former Lieutenant General Garoway shocks David when he blithely informs him that the agency knew that Rutherford turned traitor. Worse David learns that his deadly last assignment was a setup because the profile said he would return to kill Rutherford, solving a CIA embarrassment. The General gives David a choice of life in Leavenworth or working a mission to rescue agent Marlena Cory and stopping an Iraqi terrorist plot with anthrax and or a nuclear power plant. David, who jilted his fianc e Marlena, is off to Carolina where his cover is lost before he even lands at the airport. He struggles to save his beloved, stop terrorism that could kill thousands, and stay alive working with an ops officer he does not trust.

Though the current Iraqi scenario makes some of the premises seem wrong, this action-packed thriller never slows down until the final twist occurs. The story line is 200 proof action with an intriguing look at profiling and the subtly of terrorism. Fans of spy vs. spy thrillers with the lives of innocents at stake will want to drink DEVIL'S BREW in one big gulp.

Harriet Klausner