DeMille’s ‘Wild Fire’ a wild ride

Well, heck.

It’s truly a challenge to write about Nelson DeMille’s “Wild Fire” without having this minireview amount to one huge spoiler.

I could, for example, tell you about the assignment swap that results in the wrong person being killed.

I could tell you about the secret significance of a geographical location repeatedly mentioned in the book.

I could tell you about the ingeniously camouflaged equipment that is to be used for purposes other the obvious, harmless ones.

I could tell you about the Machiavellian plot that would involve the deaths of countless innocent people and plenty more not-so-innocent people, all in the cause of world peace.

But that would just ruin it for you.

So instead I’ll just say that “Wild Fire” is another example of DeMille’s prodigious talent for crafting ultra-suspenseful page-turners — while directing the action of the wise-cracking John Corey and his long-suffering wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield.

Corey’s motivation in “Wild Fire” is, as usual, righteous, and his actions so outrageous that they threaten to ruin both of their careers.

Maybe Corey could fall back on stand-up comedy.