Stuart Woods’ Golden Hour

A long-forgotten CIA mission comes back to sting former agent Teddy Fay, now disguised as a Hollywood star, in Battles’s disappointing latest entry in Woods’s series (after Obsession). While on a European tour to promote his latest film, Fay receives word that CIA agents, both current and retired, are being killed. All of the victims are connected to Operation Golden Hour, a decade-old mission focused on taking down the shadowy Trust organization, which funded terrorism worldwide. Current CIA director Lance Cabot warns Fay that he could be next, but Fay believes his mastery of disguise will keep him safe as he figures out who’s behind the killings. The narrative flits across Europe, from Venice to Budapest to Berlin, with Fay and his entourage repeatedly charming movie crowds, then dodging trouble. Along the way, readers learn little about Golden Hour or the Trust, and are subjected instead to stale showbiz satire and anemic action. The finale arrives suddenly and makes little impact. Series readers may appreciate the brief appearance of fan favorite Stone Barrington, but it’s not enough to save the day. This misses the mark. Agent: Anne Sibald, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (Dec.)