Blood Enemies

Wright (The Hounds of Heaven presciently incorporates today's troubled political climatewhere nations spy on their allies and enemy moles seem to infest intelligence agenciesinto a superbly plotted and counterplotted spy novel. Jack Cade, a former British trooper bitter over the murder of his daughter, is given an independent assignment by a top British official: to assassinate four English traitors in Cheltenham. Cade kills his first target, and as he plots the demise of the others, antagonistic agents and officials on both sides of the Atlantic size up their own political objectives and scheme against each other. Wright has developed his novel with balance, knowing just when to introduce a new player or allow another discovery. Suspense fans won't be disappointed. (May 22)