A smart story set against a diplomatic background that has a well developed plot, exciting set pieces and a very capable and charming heroine. Susan Fitzroy is the adopted daughter of James Fitzroy, a diplomatic trouble shooter for the US State Department. Susan acts as his assistant, she is very pretty and has a gift for languages. She is also someone with a shattered past that comes back to haunt her. There are two story threads in the book, the story of who Susan Fitzroy really is and the second is a plot to get hold of an incriminating file.
Susan's back story is told in a series of flashbacks that gradually fill in the complete picture, Susan is a survivor and a thief, capable and self sufficient who also carries the burden of unintended consequences. This past provides an opportunity for a mysterious man to blackmail Susan into helping with a plot to steal a file from the Turkish embassy in Brussels. The file is the centre of the second plot line as the theft becomes increasing complicated by diplomatic issues and various groups all struggle to find and use the file and its contents.
Susan is a fallible and credible heroine, full of courage and a willingness to take a risk, anxious not to harm those she loves and very smart. Both plot lines in the book are enjoyably convoluted, they double back on themselves and reveal their complexities in a very well paced and thoughtful fashion. The way that Susan has her revenge on one of her antagonists is both satisfying and fitting.The art is excellent, the cast are well drawn, the action is effective and griping and the sense of place is strongly realised. A pacey, thoughtful adventure comic.
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