"Engaging investigative tale"
Korean-American executive protection expert Allen Choice
has doubts about his failing romance with Hispanic reporter
Linda Maldonaldo while concerned with his weak business.
The adrenaline that fueled the beginning of his
relationship with Linda (see OVER THE SHOULDER) is gone
along with the thrill. The lack of executive protection
clients in the Bay area has forced Allen to accept sleazy
sleuthing that he knows is way below his skill level, but
allows him to eat. Adding to his depression is his feelings of guilt for not
being there when Linda's brother died in a drug-related car
crash. To ease his remorse Allen travels to Malibu to be
there for his girlfriend. Already feeling like a fish out
of water, instead of finding a family mourning a tragedy,
Allen walks into a nasty Internet child pornography venture
that could leave him as the next accident victim. Readers who took delight in Allen's first tale will enjoy
this story, but will quickly realize that it is not quite
on a level with its predecessor. Perhaps it is the change
of location, but Allen seems out of place in Malibu because
he fits so well in San Francisco. Still readers will
appreciate his self-deprecating doubts about himself and
Linda, and enjoy his latest investigation just not the
first choice. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted April 10, 2003
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