VORTEX

4 stars out of 5

FBI agents and married couple Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are at it again in this, their 25th appearance. But this time out, they don't spend much time working together. In fact, there were so many other characters that the FBI couple almost didn't seem like the stars of the show.

But even if they don't work together, make no mistake; it's still a really good show. Seven years after now-journalist Mia Briscoe's good friend went missing in the midst of a fraternity rave never to be seen again, Mia sees an old photo from that night and her investigative senses kick in. Problem is, the main suspect is rich, powerful and a political heavyweight who has the money and friends who can shut her down fast - or worse.

Meantime, CIA operative Mia Hildebrandt returns from a mission in Iran that failed miserably; the man she and her team were trying to get out of harm's way doesn't make it - and Olivia herself is hospitalized. Her agent-friend Mike, who tried his best to save the guy, has gone missing, and the CIA powers-that-be insist he stole some critical information and has gone rogue.

It is at this point - 11% into the book if you're reading on a Kindle - that Savich and Sherlock make an appearance. For Savich, that means visiting with Olivia, who's still recuperating from her injuries. Despite working for a rival agency, he promises her he will find Mike, get to the bottom of why he's been hiding and, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, ferret out the CIA "mole" everyone believes led to the disastrous mission. Back home, Savich is unofficially trying to help a friend with solving a triple murder; the suspect is known, but proof is elusive (at least until Savich enters the scene).

These three plots - the Iran crisis, the missing girl and the whodunit - weave their way in and out of chapters (no, it's not difficult to follow along, although of course the scene changes just as one chapter reaches some sort of cliffhanger, which while understandable from a suspense perspective, can be a little annoying at times). While I'm on the subject of annoyances, I'll mention for readers who don't enjoy reading about such things that the story involves drugs and sexual molestation. That doesn't bother me, although seeing the words "roofied and raped" in what had to be dozens of places did get a bit tiring.

Eventually, all the cases work their way toward resolution, accompanied by some nail-biters and surprises. The big reveal, for better or worse, I'd guessed early on - but I have to say it's always satisfying when that happens and I'm right. Bottom line? Definitely another enjoyable reading experience.

Vortex by Catherine Coulter (William Morrow, August 2021); 395 pp.