The Travelers

One torrid tryst with a bewitching blond in Argentina might be all it takes to torpedo the comfortable existence of Will Rhodes, the globe-trotting hero of this fast-paced but far-fetched thriller from Edgar-winner Pavone (The Accident). With evidence of his infidelity as leverage, the temptress, who calls herself Elle and presents herself as an Australian freelance wine writer, strong-arms the New York–based journalist for Travelers magazine into a string of dangerous covert ops during his assignments that increasingly, perplexingly, appear to target his Travelers colleagues, especially his boss, Malcolm Somers. Understandably preoccupied with the quagmire of lies and secrets into which he’s sinking, Will only belatedly begins to notice that his smart, sexy wife, Chloe, might be leading something of a secret life herself. With its intricate plot pinballing down dual, occasionally crisscrossing tracks, the story offers plenty of page-turning action in exotic locales—though some readers may lament the lack of a truly likable central character to root for. Agent: David Gernert, Gernert Company. (Mar.)