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Hillhouse ranks high among the new female thriller writers who have virtually taken over the once male-dominated genre, and this excellent audio shows why. A former high-level U.S. security official, Hillhouse displays his expertise on virtually every page, and Huber goes with the flow—keeping things clean and cool no matter how hot the action gets. Huber is fine at catching the complex characters of Camille Black, who supplies skilled personnel to the U.S. in Iraq; her former lover, Hunter Smith, who the C.I.A. asks Camille to find because he may be selling arms to terrorists; and a veritable snake pit of devious government agents. Listening to Huber's excellent reading adds to the pleasure of Hillhouse's solid plotting and storytelling and should convince listeners that both author and reader are talents to watch. A simultaneous release with the Forge hardcover (reviewed online). (July)