Stuart Woods’ Blown Away

Battles’s satisfying latest adventure for master of disguise Teddy Fay (after Golden Hour) opens with the ex-CIA operative undercover as Billy Barnett, second-in-command at Centurion movie studios, playing a round of golf in Palm Springs with fellow Woods hero Stone Barrington. On the green, the pair start squabbling over petty rule-breaking with Belarusian oligarch Victor Popov, who’s in town to stage a takeover of Richards Renewable Energy, a wind turbine business, and rake in billions in contracts for the Belarusian government. After finagling an invite to the lavish birthday party of his favorite actor, Victor again runs into and tangles with Teddy and Stone. At the end of the night, an actress turns up dead in the party’s swimming pool, prompting Teddy to investigate. Meanwhile, RRE’s chief engineer toils away on a breakthrough wind technology that’s in danger of being stolen by a scheming coworker. It’s a lot of plot, but readers can rest assured that Battles maintains full control, pulling everything together without skimping on suspense or amusing banter. Devoted series fans will be happy to hear that Battles remains a fantastic steward of Teddy Fay’s adventures. Agent: Anne Hawkins, John Hawkins & Assoc. (Dec.)