SHORT CHANGE

Smiley's well-paced mystery, set in L.A., is the third featuring management consultant Tucker Sinclair, who finds herself sorting out murder and theft when she attempts to organize the marketing and accounting of her friend's detective agency. A client who seems off-kilter to Tucker soon leads to identity theft, a real estate scam, and murder. When Tucker's PI friend is laid up, Tucker must investigate, or there may not be a business to consult on. Allyson Ryan does a terrific job with the villain's changing persona and with the plethora of witnesses and family members. Best of all, Ryan's sassy Tucker is irresistible. D.P.D. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 08]