RED VERDICT

Poisoned pepper on the penne gets the FBI’s attention in Comey’s latest Nora Carleton crime offering.

The CFO of Grand Central Avionics, a major drone supplier to the U.S. government, dies while eating his favorite meal with pepper flakes because they’ve been laced with Novichok. The Russian poison immediately elevates the crime to federal jurisdiction, where a whodunit gives way to a tale of espionage and counterintelligence. Nora Carleton, deputy U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, teams up with Special Agent Benny Dugan to investigate. She calls him Mr. Rough; he calls her Ms. Smooth. Soon they find out that someone killed the wrong guy. It looks like they wanted to whack GCA’s CEO, George Costas, who’s been feeding secret data about GCA drones to the Russians, who are forcing him to continue. Investigators never doubt the culpability of “the traitor Costas,” so he’s arrested based on circumstantial evidence that he “engaged in extensive spy tradecraft with a known Russian intelligence officer.” A trial ensues with hard-fought courtroom scenes featuring a blind judge and a father-son defense team prosecutors privately deride as Geppetto and Pinocchio. Readers will learn about investigative and courtroom procedure, but the plot is mostly straightforward, save for a pair of game-saving twists. Former FBI Director Comey obviously knows his subject matter, and he doles out some of his explanations through dialogue when they are obviously meant for the reader’s benefit. “I’m sure my colleagues know all this,” Nora says, “but could you walk me through the acronyms?” And speaking of dialogue, the author sure loves his F-bombs. To mangle an Annie allusion, you’re always a page away from that bleeping word or its variations. Spoken by the good guys, no less. Ah well, tastes vary. The tale is competently told with solid detail and good characters, but with insufficient tension to be labeled a thriller.

An enjoyable read, but don’t expect it to keep you up at night.