Hunting the Spy

An old relationship is rekindled while England is on the brink of war in a historical romp that mostly fails to heat up. Nathan, a gentleman’s secretary, and Peter, a wealthy aristocrat, lack the complex characterization of the protagonists in the preceding volume, Chasing the Rebel. The political intrigue and class struggles of 1792 are handled with aplomb, but it takes some time for the romance to take off—time that isn’t spent making either man particularly interesting. Nathan’s hatred of the upper classes is his only defining characteristic for far too long, and Peter’s backstory is too thin and arrives too late. Minor characters are well drawn but overlooked, and, although the plot moves quickly, the pace feels like an excuse to get to the happy ending. The bare bones of a good novel are present, but Flynn’s failure to flesh it out makes for a tepid, predictable romance. (Sept.)