Short Change

by: Patricia Smiley

Published by: NAL

Reviewed by Liz Bright

(Also available as CD)

Los Angeles business consultant, Tucker Sinclair, has left corporate America and is trying to build her own business. She’s currently working with Charley Tate. Charley is a P.I. who is also trying to get his business off the ground. But Charley’s been sidelined by a hit-and-run driver (and a wife who rather he spent all of his time with her) and Tucker steps in to save the day.

Eve Lawson is a strange woman. It’s as if she stepped out of the 1980s. She breezes into Charley’s office and hires Charley to find out who is following her. The question is: who would want to follow a writer who is working on a book about the post-World War II real estate boom in Los Angeles?

But while Charley’s back is on the mend, Eve’s boyfriend turns up dead and Eve goes missing. Tucker had better start working overtime to solve the crime before anyone else dies. And while she’s at it, Tucker has to build her own business, save Charley’s, salvage what’s left of her own love life and figure out a way to get her conniving aunt off her ‘back.’ Auntie Dearest wants to evict Tucker from her ocean digs—and it might be that Tucker’s mama will have to save the day.

Short Change is a fast and fun romp into Tucker Sinclair’s world. She’s smart, savvy and unique with enough dysfunction to make her a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to Patricia Smiley’s next Tucker Sinclair novel. I want to see what happens with Deegan.

Armchair Interviews says: A new mystery series worth reading.

Author’s Web site: http://www.PatriciaSmiley.com