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Special thriller section: 'Rules of Deception'

By Gary Williams, Special to the Rocky

Published July 10, 2008 at 7 p.m.

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* Fiction. By Christopher Reich. Doubleday, 375 pages, $24.95. Grade: B

Plot in a nutshell: Dr. Jonathan Ransom, an American, and his British wife, Emma, have spent many years abroad in the world's less desirable spots, serving with Doctors Without Borders. During a ski trip in Switzerland between assignments, the risk-taking couple encounters severe weather conditions, leading ultimately to Emma's death as she falls through a crevasse in the ice. The following day a package addressed to Emma arrives at their hotel room, and the contents lead Ransom on a perilous quest to discover the true identity of his wife and her successfully hidden secret life.

Ransom is quickly aware that, by trying to pick up packages left for Emma, he has become embroiled in a struggle between terrorists and international law enforcement officials. Reich excels in blurring the lines so that readers question just who falls on which side, leading to a thrilling ride of international espionage.

Sample of prose: Reich describes The Ghost, an assassin trailing Ransom who already has dispatched more than one collaborator in this high-tech terror plot: "Today he was an Italian businessman. Yesterday, he'd been a Swiss hiker. The day before, a German tourist. The only person he wasn't allowed to be was himself. He didn't mind. After twenty years in his line of work, the less time spent in one's own company, the better."

Pros: Deception is fast-paced, and Reich succeeds in maintaining the suspense throughout the complex story line. The characters of Ransom and policeman Marcus von Daniken are memorable and more sincere than expected from this world of good vs. evil. Reich also is adept at giving a snowy northern Europe its own role in the intrigue.

Cons: There's a lot going on at the same time, and many of the political subplots can overwhelm.

Final word: Ransom's larger-than- life persona, surgeon's intellect, mountaineering skills, good looks and bravado are tailor-made for repeat performances. He's a classic espionage protagonist and yet Reich should be commended for not overdoing his superhero qualities.