Well written, and very intriguing to keep me up all night reading. ( )

Neil Walker used to work for the internal security department (OS) of the CIA but, after his wife died in a car accident that left his eleven-year-old son physically disabled, he called it quits and became a professional genealogist, using the research skills and contacts honed during his career as a spy to put together family trees for those willing to pay for his expertise. However, when the OS goes looking for a highly placed Soviet mole, nicknamed Dante, in the U. S. government, Neil is summoned to answer questions about an interrogation he conducted of a defector, now in the CIA protection program, who has just been murdered.

Nicola Ward is a divorced schoolteacher living in Maine with an anorexic daughter, Kate, on the verge of no return. When Nicola receives a trunk from her uncle's estate in England addressed to her from her deceased Russian parents then living in Shanghai, she is delighted to discover the lost remnants of her past along with photos of her grandfather and parents. The trunk also contains valuable Russian antiques that, if genuine, will help Nicola climb out of the financial hole that threatens engulf her and Kate. When she takes her inheritance to a respected New York auction house, they decide to hire Neil to research the history of the items, which include a Faberge egg. But the investigation takes an unexpected and dangerous turn when one of the photos turns out to be that of the cell members of a group of Russian agents operating in Shanghai, China, in 1941. Dante does not want anyone connecting the dots that lead straight back to him, and he will do anything to stop the investigation now codenamed DANTE.

The Romeo Flag transcends the gender barrier that often divides readers of the thriller genre. With a complex plot revolving around Russian-Chinese history, spies and agents from both sides of the fence provide heavy doses of danger and intrigue for everyone, including hapless neighbors. Balanced against this action is the growing attraction between Neil and Nicola and the difficulties they have as single parents trying to help their children overcome trauma and illness. Hougan's characters are finely drawn with a story worth reading. ( )