Publisher: Hutchinson (The Random House Group Limited)

ISBN: 0091794994

The following review was contributed by: NORM GOLDMAN:  Editor of Bookpleasures. CLICK TO VIEW  Norm Goldman's Reviews 

To read Norm's Interview with the Author  CLICK HERE

The possibility of a terrorist attack haunts all of us. However, have you ever thought about the prospect of some of America’s European allies deciding one day that they had enough of American dominance and hegemony, particularly in space, and they contrive to level the playing field? This may be “fiction land,” however, after reading Chris Fox’s The Devil’s Halo you may not be so certain that it could not happen.

As our novel begins, a movie producer reveals to an American economic spy, Terry Weston, that the master copy of his soon to be released movie, Red Crescent was stolen.  Even more disturbing is that the master copy was secured with hack-proof military-level encryption-the same technology used by the Pentagon’s military computers.

Weston is coerced in tracking down the master copy. Eventually, as a result of the brilliance of his wife, Maria, who is a scientist from the Pentagon’s Advanced Projects Agency, the security breach is solved. However, as the Weston’s and our readers discover, the theft was not just a matter of industrial espionage, but rather something more sinister, wherein the leaders of France and Russia are plotting electronic warfare on the US military and its Space Shield. Their rationalization is based on their contention that the USA would extend its mighty power to control space militarily and deny its use to adversaries.

What is even more alarming is that the leaders of both France and Russia are being manipulated and maneuvered, like puppets on a string, by some unsavory characters that care little about the consequences of their actions, even if it means total destruction of their respective countries. Moreover, the French head of state, Broissard, is soon to be sworn in as the President of the Greater European Union that now includes Russia as one of its members.

France manages to maneuver its way into becoming the leader of an expanded Europe while simultaneously using Russia’s muscle and its aerospace expertise. Unfortunately, Germany is a victim of a scandalous ploy on the part of the French which eventually causes its financial bankruptcy. Nothing seems to make sense in the world of espionage, as the author strings an intricate web among all of the actors in the novel.

Fox is a superb story teller and you have to admit he seems to have done a great deal of research, although at times, I did find that I was being jerked around with a whole mix of over burdensome events. However, eventually Fox manages to neatly and effortlessly wrap it all up, where everything comes together, and confirms the old adage that it is not the story that is important but rather the way you tell it.

The pacing and engaging plot with all of its creative espionage gadgetry, reminiscent of a James Bond movie, is extremely good, and the dialogue-driven novel is difficult to put down once you get started.

Should we look forward to a possible movie based on the book or perhaps a sequel, where husband and wife team Terry and Maria Weston are once again embroiled in some interesting shenanigans?