From Publishers Weekly
The daughter of an infamous Cold War assassin known as the Carnivore is yanked from her tranquil life as a UC-Santa Barbara psychology professor by an international conspiracy in this competent thriller. When ex-CIA agent Liz Sansborough, making her second outing for Lynds (after 1996's Masquerade), is viciously attacked while taking a bike ride, she quickly discovers that her troubled past is impossible to escape. She also learns that her cousin has been kidnapped on her Paris vacation, and that the kidnappers are demanding the Carnivore's long-lost files, thought to contain the details of dozens of high-profile hits, for ransom. Liz isn't eager to go back to work for her old boss, but she quickly readapts to her former profession. As the bodies pile up, however, she finds herself making little progress: she can't find her cousin, and she doesn't even know if her father's files exist. When she teams up with Simon Childs, an old family friend and British MI6 undercover agent, the two forge ahead in a death-defying charge through France and England, their sights set on a mysterious group of corporate titans known as the Coil. The novel moves at a blistering pace, much in the tradition of espionage legend Robert Ludlum, with whom Lynds co-wrote three novels. Liz has appeal-a wry sense of humor and infectious enthusiasm-yet she sometimes suffers from a case of political correctness; readers may find her preachy opinions grating. Her refusal to carry a gun, for example, is an admirable decision for everyday life, but absurd considering the gallons of blood flowing around her.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"A panoramic backdrop of exotic European locales, breakneck pacing, a tough and brainy protagonist and vicious villains...spellbinding."-Chicago Sun-Times on The Coil
"The Coil is a spy thriller of the highest order...will leave readers slack-jawed in amazement."
-Bookpage on The Coil
"Reading The Coil is hazardous to a good night's sleep, because it's definitely a page turner."
-Times Record News on The Coil
"Not only is the thriller not dead, but it is alive and well and safe in the hands of outstanding authors such as Gayle Lynds."-January Magazine on The Coil
"Where are the new Robert Ludlums and Tom Clancys coming from? Here's one excellent candidate: the tough-minded and talented Gayle Lynds."-Chicago Tribune on The Coil
"A rapid paced, white knuckle page turner that pulls you in on page one and keeps you reading throughout the night...this one will leave you breathless!" -Affaire de Coeur on The Coil
"Moves with stunning speed and keeps the pages turning with twists and layers in both plot and family loyalties...The Coil races from beginning to end, driven by ruthless men with their own golden rule: 'He who has the gold makes the rules.'"-Santa Barbara News-Press on The Coil
"The novel moves at a blistering pace, much in the tradition of espionage legend Robert Ludlum."
-Publishers Weekly on The Coil
"A triumph-an absolutely compelling international thriller...confirms Lynds as being right at the top of the field. If you already know Lynds's work, then prepare yourself for what is definitely her best book yet. If you've never read Lynds before, then I envy you. You are in for a real treat."
-David Morrell, author of The Protector and First Blood on The Coil
"Tantalizing, plenty of suspense and action, great characters, and settings that span the world. I love it!"-Dale Brown, author of Flight of the Old Dog and Air Battle Force on The Coil
"Smart, complex, and immensely entertaining. The surprises start on the first page and keep coming all the way to the end. The Coil is sure to be a bestseller!"-Thomas Perry, author of Pursuit and The Butcher's Boy on The Coil
"In this thrill-a-minute tale of secret operatives and hired assassins, Gayle Lynds proves once again why she's the leading lady on international intrigue. Her dead-on research and breakneck pacing leave you-like former CIA agent Liz Sansborough-navigating a maze of deadly agendas. Beware the Coil!"
-Gregg Hurwitz, author of The Kill Clause and Do No Harm on The Coil
"The Coil is a terrific read, exactly the kind of fast-paced espionage thriller that I love. Great characters, a turbo-charged narrative full of surprises, dark and fabulous settings-what more could you want?"
-Douglas J. Preston on The Coil
"This fast-paced international espionage thriller is Lynds at her best. With an abundance of surprising twists and turns, smart and savvy writing, as well as mysterious and compelling characters, it kept me riveted to the end. A great read!"-Old Book Barn Gazette on The Coil
