Dark Waters

Goff’s strong first thriller, a series opener, introduces Raisa Jordan, an agent for the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service who’s assigned to Tel Aviv as the assistant regional security officer. American judge Ben Taylor and his 11-year-old daughter, Lucy, survive but appear to have been additional targets in the very public double assassination of a Palestinian with links to the Palestinian Liberation Committee and Raisa’s predecessor as ARSO. The two victims were involved in a botched exchange of USB drives. Ben refuses to leave Tel Aviv, but the secretary of state is due to arrive shortly, so only Raisa and a small Marine detachment can safeguard him and Lucy. Raisa must also discover the nature of the information being exchanged in order to discern the goals of all parties involved. Figures from Raisa’s past complicate matters further, while allies and enemies are difficult to differentiate. Goff (A Sacrifice of Buntings) doesn’t try to minimize the region’s political complexities. Agent: Peter Rubie, Fine Print Literary Management. (Aug.)