Sleight of Hand

by: Robin Hathaway

Published by: St. Martin's Minotaur

Reviewed by Caryn St. Clair

Sleight of Hand is the third of the Jo Banks books by Hathaway. Jo Banks is a likable character. She left her lucrative pediatric practice when she misdiagnosed a child and set up a small-town practice in southern New Jersey. She lives in a motel and drives a Honda motorcycle. And she is forever stumbling into murder investigations that get her involved in trying to help change the lives of those involved for the better. As is often the case in the real world, those good intentions lead to danger.

In Sleight of Hand, Jo is out for a bike ride when she hears a printing press off in the distance. Because her father is a printer, that sound pulls at her. When she goes to investigate, she causes an accident. Trying to make amends, Jo sets out to help Max, a retired magician and his daughter, Lolly. The question is, how much of the story that Max told Jo is true?

Hathaway gives readers a glimpse of a New Jersey not usually portrayed–a small town in rural New Jersey. It’s a place I look forward to visiting again.

Armchair Interviews says: Nice characters in well-written mystery.

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