Book: In the Cold (S, R)

Jeanie London's In the Cold is a tight, well-paced political thriller/romance. Violet is a former CIA-type operative who has lost her memory after a months-long stint in a prison camp. Her former teammates, who believed she was dead, have discovered her new identity and are reestablishing relationships with her so she can remember her past and reveal some information they need.

The political intrigue is complex but not overwhelming. The villain is a realistic, even sympathetic man with strong ideals and a willingness to do anything to achieve them. There is a fascinating subplot with a traitor caught between his moral failures and his desire to become the person he once was.

Violet's challenges to reclaim a sense of identity, both before and after her memories begin to re-emerge, are heartwrenching and realistic. Her former boss, a stoic leader who never revealed his feelings for Violet (not even to himself), must come to terms with his emotions since he has infiltrated her life and begins to fall in love with her all over again.

The book is well-written and exciting and dense, but there was just something missing. Too many times, I felt I was passively observing the heroine and her man as they processed their feelings instead of experiencing the events with them. This is an intangible thing; I'm not sure how this difficulty could have been overcome, or whether parts of the story just didn't click with me personally. I certainly think others would enjoy the book and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

Grade: B