W.E.B. Griffin: The Devil’s Weapons

Kirsanow (the Mike Garin series) does a credible job with his first contribution to bestseller Griffin’s Men at War franchise, the eighth installment (after The Spymasters). In 1940, Col. William “Wild Bill” Donovan of the OSS taps U.S. Army Air Force major Dick Canidy to rescue Sebastian Kapsky, a mathematician trapped between the Russians and the Germans in Poland who has knowledge that could lead to the development of an atomic bomb. Donovan chooses Canidy not only for his physical and mental attributes but also because he’s “an unconventional, reckless SOB.” Canidy joins forces with Army lieutenant Eric Fulmar and British sergeant Conor McDermott for what all assume will be a suicide mission. Working with Polish Home Army guerrilla fighters, the team hit what they believe to be a dead end, but which turns out to be just the beginning. Soon the Russians and the Germans are also looking for Kapsky, and it’s a deadly race to see who will win the superweapon prize. Kirsanow ticks off all the boxes, including beautiful women and interesting historical figures, most importantly Lt. Cmdr. Ian Fleming. An open ending and a teaser point to a continuation of the story to come. Griffin fans will be satisfied. Agent: Scott Miller, Trident Media Group. (Dec.)