OTELLO'S OIL

In Layton’s series-starting near-future thriller, a government agent leads an investigation into the opera-house assassination of the Kuwaiti oil minister.

In October 2031, Elliot Jones, a senior Diplomatic Security Service agent, is visiting his college-aged daughter, Rachel, in Seattle, when he witnesses a man abandon his van on a ferry. He alerts ferry security and, after a quick investigation, they discover that the van is filled with C-4 explosives, fertilizer, diesel fuel, and a timer. Together, they manage to push the van into the water right before the bombs go off, saving the passengers and crew. That same day, Mohammad Al-Mutairi, the oil minister of Kuwait, attends the opening night of the Washington Opera Company’s production of Otello in Washington, D.C., as the guest of U.S. Secretary of State Lynne Farnsworth. Shortly after intermission, he’s assassinated—poisoned and shot. Upon returning home to Virginia, Elliot is put in charge of the case. Meanwhile, various dignitaries and business strategists around the world discuss and refine their agendas, especially when it comes to oil, and it turns out that Secretary Fansworth has some secrets of her own. Layton’s novel delves into the perspectives of multiple characters, most prominently Elliot and Secretary Farnsworth, in a story of murder, political intrigue, and unseemly relationships. The central plot is intriguing, and the book offers plenty of vibrant descriptions of its many international settings, such as Geneva: “The sky was clear and brilliant. The sun sparkled off the lake. Were it summer this part of the lake would be full of boats by noon. Not today.” However, frequent information dumps and tangents about historical events, buildings, or characters’ backstories slow the pace and make the narrative feel disjointed and unfocused. The dialogue is often clunky, due to small talk and minutiae that add little to either the plot or character development. It also becomes repetitive when multiple characters report the news of the assassination. In addition, readers may find that Elliot lacks a sense of complexity that might have made his character more compelling.

An intriguing but meandering tale of global espionage and illicit affairs.