Review: A fresh, competent spy-mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 8, 2012
"In the Shadow of Idols" is an energetic spy story with an appealing twist: The spy's handler is a complete and utter rookie.Fresh from a job as a hotel concierge, Matt Kucera, code name Echo, has to get up to speed in a hurry. Further complicating the situation, the CIA, for all intents and purposes, no longer exists. Like all U.S. spies, Valerie Vaughn, or Valkyrie, now works for a corporation: in her case, the Private Intelligence Agency, or PIA.The plot revolves around one of Valkyrie's sources informing her that a terrorist plot is in the works: "In late October, America will be devastated by seeing thousands of Americans die, poisoned in the shadow of their false idols." She dutifully passes the hot tip on to her CEO, but nothing seems to be happening. Just days before the end of October, she and Echo discover why and race to avert a tragedy.While it's not perfect, this is a very good novel -- well thought out and well executed. It gets 3-1/2 stars from me with extra credit for perfectly illustrating the problems that might occur if certain government functions were outsourced. It meticulously paints a picture of corporations that are fiercely competitive and profit-driven, hoarding information rather than sharing it.