Perhaps its my miniscule attention span that causes my mind to wander during the complicated and technical bits that run rampant through most contemporary spy novels. I tend to doze off as soon as the technology reaches beyond my limited comprehension and the politics become too arcane.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I found myself completely wrapped up in the plot of Devils Halo, the newest offering by Chris Fox. Its about a sort of movie spy, but not in the martini swilling, woman chasing James Bond sense. No, our hero is a family manalbeit a family of brainiac aerospace typeshired to foil a scheme hatched by foreign evil doers to steal one of Americas most precious commodities: blockbuster movies. Now, thats something to which even I can relate.

To be sure, Devils Halo has its share of space age devices and political scheming, but its expertly woven into a storyline with human interest, romance, murder and even a dash or two of well-placed humor. Add a damsel in distress, a child in peril and a decidedly heroic protagonist, and youve got what it takes to keep me turning pages.

Mr. Fox has most certainly done his research and that, combined with his elegant prose, makes his explanations of even the most fiendishly complex mechanisms and devices a pleasure to read. Moreover, he spices his narrative with delightful bits of esoterica (would you know where to find a portrait of Einstein in stained glass?) that one can save up for those ever so boring dinner parties.

The Devils Halo can be had at Amazon U.K. for now, but Americans will be seeing it in bookstores by this summer. Intellectual pirates beware; youre being watched.

By Raechel Donahue