cover image The Woman Left Behind

The Woman Left Behind

Linda Howard. Morrow, $26.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-06-241901-9

Howard (Troublemaker) delivers an exciting standalone romantic thriller, featuring nuanced characters in extraordinary circumstances who still feel relatable and warm. Jina Modell has a desk job in communications for a secret government agency; she’s surprised to be transferred to a black-ops group that needs someone to run its comms. Jina’s never been a quitter, but the training that team leader Levi Butcher puts her through makes her reconsider whether she wants this exciting new gig. Almost half the book covers her intense workouts and long runs while she learns to use a high-tech drone and proves herself a tough, capable member of Levi’s team. As the team travels the world to conduct surveillance and complete missions, she regrets that she can’t act on the intense attraction drawing her and Levi together. Howard skillfully delays Levi and Levi and Jina’s coming together until it feels like a well-deserved payoff, using the time to show relationships between the close-knit crew, who work seamlessly together. A subplot involving a crooked congresswoman is barely needed. (Mar.)