In this latest installment of Rucka's "Queen
and Country" series (after A Gentleman's Game),
Special Ops agent Tara Chace is back in London, her unsanctioned
mission in Saudi Arabia having been forgiven by her SIS handlers.
Now, nine months after resigning to give birth to a daughter,
she is offered a chance to reclaim her job. The leader of Uzbekistan
is nearing death, and his son, Ruslan, and daughter, Sevara—the
latter aided by Ahtam Zahidov, head of the secret police—are
both maneuvering to succeed him. Tara’s mission? Get
Ruslan and his two-year-old son out of Uzbekistan and back
to England. But the head of the Foreign Office and the Chief
of Service are locked in combat over four lost missiles and
have a different goal. Tara has to appease both the CIA and
the SIS, account for the missiles, arrange an exchange between
Sevara and Ruslan, and avenge her torture byZahidov. Rucka
provides an initial glossary to help with the numerous acronyms
that, along with his use of real names and ongoing political
events, lend his many-layered tale an air of authenticity.
Suspenseful and action-packed, this spy thriller is recommended
for public libraries.