Special atmosphere.

This book initially made me think of the series Alias: The CIA, the shenanigans, the disguises, lies a reality that taste (to notably avian influenza) and molasses in which are debated the characters.
It ... It's a real killer to pledge. Pure and simple. So she may be just a little too "hard" for this kind of book. More difficult to identify with it.
By him against it is a worthy howardien hero: strong but gentle, manly and decided. I found that he had much more dimension that, it was more human.
Overall this is a good book, the atmosphere is transmitted, light style browsing. Nevertheless I think it lacks a little something indefinable to make an exceptional book.