Dark Zone

November 15, 2004
Deep Black, a super-secret subagency within the National Security Agency (and a figment of Coonts' and DeFelice's imaginations), is intended to give NSA some field capabilities. Operatives Charlie Dean and Tommy Karr appear in the process of rescuing an ambassador's daughter and are soon on the trail of an Algerian terrorist who possesses extensive knowledge of France, some sophisticated chemical explosives, and the plutonium from a miniature A-bomb. In the wake of an ordeal of her own in Korea, colleague Lia de Francesca soon joins Charlie and Tommy, while their boss, Reubens, fends off legal challenges that could endanger Deep Black's security. The suspense, action, knowledge of weapons and methods, and characterization are all up to par and frequently better, and the opposing sides are fairly well matched. The outcome remains uncertain right up to the final death duels on the Eiffel Tower and in the Chunnel, and for once a reasonably balanced depiction of the French is given to the often Francophobic thriller audience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)