The Cairo Code

First published in slightly different form in 1999 under the title The Sands of Sakkara, this richly atmospheric thriller from Meade (Snow Wolf) examines the shifting nature of loyalty, patriotism, and love. In 1939, Johann "Jack" Halder, born of a Prussian father and an American mother, and his childhood friend Harry Weaver meet in Cairo on an archeological dig. Both men fall in love with Rachel Stern, another member of the team. When war is declared, they are inducted into the service of their respective countries. The Germans enlist Jack in a plot to assassinate a leader of the Allies; the Americans charge Harry with stopping him. Spies, counterspies, and the denizens of Cairo's murky underworld lend color as the lines between good and bad become increasingly blurred. This satisfying read includes a fast-paced plot, intriguing interpretations of historical fact, and characters forced to take a close look at their motives. (Mar.)