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Guise of Another (67% done)

Lively, interesting plot.

Death on boat of executive involved in Black Ops for US govt.  Probably killed by partner for $$$$.  Prostitutes on boat intended for blackmail scheme, but murder trumps that.  Serbian hit man (his parents brutalized in Serbia; he becomes killer in response) kills the prostitutes . . . but, one of the prostitutes is actually a 17 year old who has borrowed the name of a friend to get a job in a club that is required  by law to have "employees" (strippers) who are 18 and older.

The Serb comes to town to clean up the mess. His plan--get a flash drive that shows the murder of the executive on the boat and kill everyone left.  The 17 year old has become a respected Iowa mom. She tells Alexander (our detective) the truth, little knowing that the Serb wants to kill her and that Alexander--if he solves the case--would by necessity expose her.

Jericho Pope pretends to be James Putnam.  Michella Holla pretends to be Hillary.  The Serb is in disguise all the time.  Alexander (the good cop) looks like he probably stole $100,000 from a drug dealer.  Lots of nice twists and turns.

The weakest part continues to be Alexander's failing marriage.  He seems like an idiot--the woman is so clearly having an affair with Martin Andrews that the only possible twist at the end would be to learn that she isn't.  I don't see how he can pull it off.  Our shrewd, tough cop is a milquetoast with his wife.

Probably finish tomorrow, then back to Siberia for Part V before tackling NAPOLEON!

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