The Take

Freelance spy Simon Riske, the hero of this tense if predictable series launch from Thriller Award–winner Reich (Invasion of Privacy), operates a high-end auto repair shop in central London when he’s not doing spook work. An American expat who grew up in France’s street gang world, Riske is hired—most likely by the CIA—to track down Tino Coluzzi, who engineered the ambush robbery of a Saudi prince after he left his Paris hotel for the airport. Of more importance, however, is a letter that Coluzzi unwittingly stole from the prince, the contents of which could seriously undermine the Russian government. The CIA wants the letter, as does a Russian assassin and her stop-at-nothing handler. Riske, however, is driven by personal motivation: back when they were fellow gangsters, Coluzzi betrayed Riske during a bank heist, leading to his capture and long imprisonment. Riske has been itching for payback ever since. Likable, rascally, and suave, Riske is as distinctive as Reich’s other series lead, Jonathan Ransom. Agent: Richard Pine, Inkwell Management. (Jan.)