Mathews brings into focus today’s fears of bio-terrorism. As a public health crisis it is hard to identify the problem, difficult to determine the source of contagion and, depending on whether or not sophisticated genetic engineering is present, may be impossible to treat. Couple this with our protection agencies riddled with greed, self aggrandizement, and traitors focused on hidden agendas, Mathews challenges the reader to face to face these very uncomfortable realities.

Caroline Carmichael is a CIA field agent, a specialist in counter-terrorism, and primarily focused on the international terrorist group 30 April (Hitler’s death date). In Cutout it was believed that they had neutralized this group when Caroline executed their leader. Others were also involved: Caroline’s husband Eric, who had been placed undercover in Europe in the terrorist organization, and their duplicitous boss Scottie Sorensen. Caroline now believes Eric is dead having died in an airplane explosion. She resigns due to Sorensen’s betrayals.

She is clearing her desk when 30 April strikes again. This time, an assassin posing as a Marine at a water station hands out the toxic ricin randomly to marathon runners. Hundreds of competing runners drink the toxin as well as the specific target, the wife of the Speaker of the House. Thus, as the FBI joins the hunt, Caroline is pressed back into duty as the assassin moves across the eastern United States leaving violence and death.

Meanwhile in Europe, and unknown to all except Sorensen, Eric is very much alive and functioning as a double agent with 30 April. Sorensen had recruited him and has set him up to cover his own tracks. Thus, both sides are now hunting Eric.

The cast of characters is large, many of whom were developed in Cutout. They continue to simultaneously evolve as Mathews introduces a large field of interesting supporting characters. The dialog is riddled with the CIA speak one would expect from an author who is a retired CIA analyst.

Scenes shift as quickly as the action, and betrayal becomes the operative concept. For the most part, the novel proceeds at breakneck speed, but subtle pacing enhances the result.

Francine Mathews is a master at creating incredibly complex tightly knit plots, always layered in ways the reader does not realize. Suddenly the plot will unexpectedly twist to reach a logical but unexpected point, and turning and galloping to the surprise ending.

Blown is a Must read for spy aficionados.

--Thea Davis