The Double Eagle    by James Twining Order:  USA  Can HarperCollins, 2006 (2005) Paperback Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Belle Dessler In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order to 'prohibit the hoarding of gold coin, gold bullion, and gold certificates within the continental United States by individuals, partnerships, associations and corporations'. This included the newly minted 1933 Double Eagle coins. Officially, these coins were not supposed to exist once this executive order came into being ... but ten survived. When a priest's mutilated body is pulled out of the modern-day Seine river and his stomach contents reveal one of these rarest of coins, it sets into motion a treasure hunt unlike any other. Jennifer Browne is called in on the case, and she sees this as her last chance at redemption. A fatal error in judgment almost cost her career three years earlier, and she's determined not to let anything like that happen again. When she learns that the coins were supposed to be stored at Fort Knox, all signs point to one man as the likely perpetrator of such a gutsy crime: Tom Kirk, a brilliant thief who has made a name for himself stealing luxury items such as priceless jewels and Faberge eggs. But Tom is innocent of the crime, and enlists Jennifer's help to clear his name. What follows is a series of chase scenes straight out of a Hollywood action movie. The plot moves quickly, taking the reader on a frantic adventure from one exotic location to another. The historical aspect behind the true account of the Double Eagle coins adds a level of depth and intrigue to an already fascinating story. Toss in a villainous criminal mastermind who may or may not be connected to the missing coins, a beautiful FBI agent, and a true anti-hero desperate to prove his innocence, and you have a good old-fashioned thriller that's sure to delight. One of the most charming aspects of this novel lies in the strength of the characters. They're fully developed, with interesting pasts and motivations that carry them from one exciting adventure to the next. Best of all, it always feels as though they're in full control of their actions, even when events seem to be spiraling out of control around them. Although this is Twining's debut novel, it's a polished piece of fiction sure to appeal to fans of adventure thrillers. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews