A fun spy-thriller with relatively few injuries and a protagonist who is an all-around nice guy. Simon Riske–alright, a little heavy-handed on the naming protocols of characters– is asked by the CIA to track down Tino Coluzzi, an Italian baddie who has apparently stolen a letter (and several million dollars). The letter’s contents, if they fall into Russian hands, could upset the global balance of power. International politics is of secondary importance, meaning there is not a lot to learn here, but the plot is in continuous motion without ever veering far from credulity.
Yes, there are canned villains like the psychopathic head of the KGB, a Russian femme fatale, and one anti-villain, a sexy, single, female, and very FRENCH policewoman, who assists Riske in his search for justice. But Riske’s basic humanity and the way in which the story steps carefully and methodically from an expertly achieved heist of a Saudi Prince’s millions (and the purloined letter) to the thieves’ getaway plan. From there we learn who the insiders were that helped with the assault on the Prince, and then a discovery of the Prince’s secrets. All that and we are just in the opening chapters. It is hard to take your eyes off the hunt for Coluzzi as the CIA, KGB, French Police, and Simon Riske all run after him.