The Spanish Game Charles Cumming St. Martin's HC $24.95 December

When Alec Milius was a spy it cost him. He ran, trying to purge his guilt and avoid being killed by the CIA. He ended up in Spain and for six years he's looked over his shoulder, kept a bag packed, several phones and separate lines available, kept to himself, kept out of trouble; the kind of things a spy does. Alec works for a banker providing due diligence.
Despite his fears, he's grown bored. His friend comes to visit and tells him no one is after him anymore. He's told by his boss to run up to Basque country to talk to a politician with separatist connections about a business deal. They meet, enjoy each others company and agree to meet again. When the man disappears Alec starts to wonder why and finds himself back in the business.

Charles Cummings The Spanish Game is a fast paced, thinking man's spy novel. His character Alec Milius is smart but not too smart. What he's looking for is an end to his dead end affair, his dead end job and his fears that he's done nothing but damage in his young but getting old fast, life. He finds he wants back in the MI-5 or 6 or SIS.

Cumming has the reader right where he wants him following every cross and double cross trying to keep up with Alec. The Spanish Game can and should be shelved with the best of Le Carre, Deighton and McCarry.

Dave Biemann