THE MADMEN OF BENGHAZI, available for the first time in the U.S., is a gripping, racy, ripped-from-the-headlines espionage thriller set in volatile post-Qaddafi Libya.    Gérard de Villiers (1929–2013) spent his five-decade career cultivating connections in the world of international intelligence, which allowed him to anticipate geopolitical events before they occurred—and to masterfully blend fiction with an insider’s knowledge of international affairs. Published from 1964 until his death in 2013, his bestselling SAS series of 200 spy novels, starring Malko Linge, was long considered France’s answer to Ian Fleming, with Malko as his James Bond. Its hero, Malko Linge, an Austrian aristocrat, spends his time freelancing for the CIA in order to support his playboy lifestyle. When terrorists try to shoot down a plane carrying Libyan prince Ibrahim al-Senussi, it is clear that someone wants him dead. But the CIA has its own plot for the prince: Now that Qaddafi has been overthrown, al-Senussi is their best bet to set up a constitutional monarchy and stem the Islamist tide in Libya. The CIA, which needs Malko as much as he needs them, sends the Austrian aristocrat to Cairo to learn more about al-Senussi’s plans by seducing his companion, a ravishing British model. This mission is enormously appealing, but also proves enormously dangerous, as the same madman of God who is trying to kill al-Senussi also takes aim at Malko. “Blazingly fast. . . . Entertaining. . . . Readers may wonder why American publishers waited so long to bring the series to this country.”      — Publishers Weekly "Linge has been called the French James Bond, but no Bond novel was ever as sexually graphic, or as politically relevant, as this one. It’s so good, though, in that guilty-pleasure, over-the-top Bondian way that it will make American readers impatient to get their hands on the entire series." -- Booklist,  starred review "The Spy Novelist Who Knows Too Much. . . . De Villiers’ books contain information about terror plots, espionage and wars that has never appeared elsewhere. . . . [They] are ahead of the news and sometimes even ahead of events themselves.” -- The New York Times Magazine Gérard de Villiers (1929–2013) is the most popular spy-thriller writer in French history. His hundred-odd books about the adventures of the Austrian nobleman and freelance CIA operative Malko Linge have sold millions of copies. Malko Linge, who first appeared in 1964, has often been compared to Ian Fleming’s hero James Bond. The two secret agents share a taste for gunplay and kinky sex, but de Villiers was a journalist at heart, and his books are based on constant travel and reporting in dozens of countries. On several occasions de Villiers was even ahead of the news. His 1980 novel had Islamists killing President Anwar el-Sādāt of Egypt a year before the event took place. The Madmen of Benghazi and Chaos in Kabul vividly reflect the current upheaval in Libya and Afghanistan. Excerpted from Chapter One Ibrahim al-Senussi was stark naked when he stepped out of the shower, and he stopped dead at his bedroom door. Cynthia was sitting on the edge of the big bed, making a call on her cell phone. That wasn’t sexy in itself, but between the lapels of the young woman’s Chanel suit—his birthday present to her—he could see her nipples straining against the raw-silk blouse.   Cynthia’s shapely legs were bare from her upper thigh to her tawny, very high-heeled boots. The length of her skirt had once been quite proper—until she had the hem raised.   Al-Senussi felt the blood rushing to his crotch.   It had taken him months to get Cynthia Mulligan into bed. When he first met her, the thirtyish blonde was so gorgeous it made his head spin. She was wearing a practically transparent blue muslin Dior dress that set off her slim body and long legs to their best advantage.   She didn’t seem standoffish, either. When al-Senussi smilingly approached, she’d been happy to chat. And he didn’t have too much trouble persuading her to have dinner with him at Annabel’s, one of the few places in London that still served decent caviar. Between glasses of champagne, they took a spin on the small dance floor.   Al-Senussi wanted to pull her close, but Cynthia modestly kept her distance. Still, her almond-shaped eyes hardly looked shy. He forced himself to be patient, figuring she might not like public displays of affection.   For the Libyan, disappointment came at midnight.   “I have to go home,” Cynthia said with an apologetic smile. “I’m getting up at seven tomorrow.”   “But why?” he stammered.   “I’m working. I have a shoot for Vogue at eight thirty in the morning.”   A top fashion model, Cynthia Mulligan had a job that involved tricky schedules and lots of travel.   Feeling aggrieved, al-Senussi took her back to her apartment on Mulberry Walk in Chelsea. They parted with a kiss that was almost chaste, though it let him taste Cynthia’s lips an