The Cardinal Rule
Cate Dermody
Silhouette Bombshell, Dec 2005, $4.99
ISBN: 0373513852

CIA Agent Alisha MacAleer hates her current assignment. Her handler and mentor Greg Parker informed her that she must go undercover looking into the activities of an American scientist working at a base in Kazakhstani. No matter what she does she knows she will hurt someone dear to her as the target is Brandon Parker, son of her mentor. Still she does the job as the professional she is seeking to learn whether he is developing a robotic soldier and if yes how far along has he come.

However, the investigation falls apart from the beginning as Alisha is outed immediately. Not sure who gave her away, she flees trusting no one; not even those from her agency. Professionals follow her with plans to silence her about what little she has learned.

This thrilling suspense will leave the audience breathless, but also like the heroine bewildered with who is doing what to whom except that everyone seems to be after Alisha. Adding to her confusion (but in this case not the audience) she has no idea what she learned that has made her a target. Readers will commiserate with Alisha as everyone she meets is a potentially deadly stranger especially the wild card Riechart, whom she is very attracted to even though is a freelancer.

Harriet Klausner