Last Night in Rio

In this Elmore Leonard-style combo of good guys and bad, murder and mayhem, the writing team of Ronn and Janice Kaiser delivers an engaging love story centered around Las Vegas security executive Michael Hamlin and his wealthy ex-wife, Serena Bouchard. When Serena's gay brother is imprisoned in Brazil on a murder charge, she enlists Michael's aid in clearing him. Michael doesn't speak Portuguese and argues, ""I don't know shit about Brazil. And I'm not even a P.I. So what good would I be to you?"" When Serena uses every weapon known to woman-sex, guilt, pity and intimidation-to reel Mike into the game, how can he say no? So it's off to Rio amidst flying bullets, threats and steamy doses of sexual tension. Add the highly atmospheric lure of Brazil and finely crafted characters, and this one has big screen written all over it. (Dec.)