In this second suspenseful and exciting novel in the ‘Day and Knight’ series, technical analyst Day and stoic former Marine Knight are back, and this time they are trying to solve a decades-old mystery around artwork lost since WWII. The mystery around the vanished paintings is complicated, the Russians trying to score points with the ex-Eastern block states are far too close to the truth, and to make everything worse, there is a leak in Day and Knight's agency that causes them to be thwarted at every turn. The relationship Day thought they had tentatively started in Mexico seems to be off again while they’re in the office, but is back on as soon as they return to the field. It drives Day up the wall and makes Knight grit his teeth against feelings he wishes he didn’t have to deal with. This is another intense story with twists and turns that made me dizzy and enough heat to make me reach for a cold drink. But best of all, as far as I am concerned, both Day and Knight can now see that they do very well as work partners and are beginning to admit they may be good for each other in their personal lives as well. Will wonders never cease?

Day has come a long way from “just” being a technical analyst. He is still very good at that part of his job, but after Mexico, he is finally beginning to get the recognition he wants for his ability to work in the field as well. Even Knight has to admit he is a good partner, what with all the tracking and solving pieces of the puzzle Day does as they race against the Russians, and that is saying something. The part Day struggles with is Knight's reluctance to get involved. He can understand Knight's reluctance to let go of his love for his deceased wife and son, but after two years, he thinks Knight should begin to let go. Sharing some intimate moments while in the field, only to fear facing the cold shoulder again once it’s over, is no way to live. Day being Day, he is not afraid to poke the bear, so to speak, and make Knight realize what he’s doing.

Knight is extremely uncomfortable around Day but doesn’t want to admit it’s because of the feelings Day makes him have. Knight is not willing to face them, thinks he is not entitled to any happiness, and still feels like a traitor every time he “forgets” his dead wife and son. At the same time he realizes that two years of watching the world from the bottom of a bottle is no way to live, so something will have to give. Add this to all the pressure of discovering where the lost paintings have been hidden, evading the Russian agents who are after them, and keeping Day safe, and I was amazed Knight held up as well as he did. In the end, it comes down to having the courage to face the truth, and since Knight is a Marine and not afraid of anything – or so he tells himself – there is hope for him.

If you like stories about men who are trying to avoid admitting they have feelings for each other, if you believe fieldwork and stress bring out the best in them, and if you’re looking for a suspenseful mystery around lost art and international politics, then you will probably like this novel as much as I did. Bring on the next story, Dirk Greyson!


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )