Cloak of Darkness

Rating:
Summary: terrorists and their foes
Review: This one of three MacInnes novels featuring Robert Renwick as the hero. They are best read in order: PRELUDE TO TERROR, THE HIDDEN TARGET, and then CLOAK OF DARKNESS.

This was the penultimate novel for MacInnes. Almost all of her novels were about the struggle against either Nazism or Communism, but in this novel the focus has shifted more to international terrorism. Renwick is a former NATO intelligence officer who has started a new organization InterIntell. Like InterPol, they exist to be a clearinghouse for information, but instead of drugs they focus on terrorism.

It doesn't follow the normal conventions of a MacInnes novel. It is more procedural than most, because Renwick is a professional rather than her usual "inspired amateur". Also, Renwick is married, so the usual MacInnes romance plot is somewhat modified.

But it is a strong novel, with more than a few really surprising plot twists. (MacInnes usually doesn't rely on plot twists.) I recommend it, but do try to read the other two first.