Graveyard Shift

SUMMARY: The third outing of Lange's intrepid and winning reporter sleuth finds anchorwoman Maxi Poole being inexplicably reassigned to the graveyard shift of news, the death knell of a television journalist. Her boss's reasons for doing so are mysterious and aggravating and Maxi finds herself wondering if her career in Los Angeles is essentially over. Before lapsing into a pit of despair, she's distracted by the kidnapping of the son of a neighbor's housekeeper, the murder of a local politician's obnoxious wife, and the sexy new cameraman to whom she's been assigned. WHAT YOU'LL LIKE: Lange's talent for fiction never has been exhibited so well than in this third installment of the series. Maxi continues to be an absolutely charming and charismatic heroine with extreme rooting value: smart, capable, cunning and courageous, yet still vulnerable and emotionally accessible. The behind-the-scenes looks at television reporting are interesting without being intrusive. Myriad tendrils of plot weave together in a seamless fashion; witty dialogue, intelligent development and characterization, and a genuinely surprising resolution combine to produce a thoroughly engrossing and admirable addition to one's library. WHAT YOU WON'T: Minor instances of groaning at the actions of certain characters and the frustration of trying to figure out the end before reaching it, but nothing which would impede recommending this to any fan of the genre. BOTTOM LINE: Reestablishes Lange as an author to watch (and compulsively read) and Maxi Poole as one of the best sleuths in a genre bogged down with lesser counterparts. Anxiously awaiting the next installment!

This book is Maxi Poole at her best. There are light moments (especially for us pet lovers), but there are also the well devised mystery twists that are signature to these books. Guaranteed you'll never see the final one(s) coming, so don't even try to figure it out. If you want a great adventure, just let Maxi lead the way!