The Confidence Games

Two swindling besties get in over their heads in this effervescent caper from Amy, who writes the Marion Lane historical mysteries as T.A. Willberg. After an ugly breakup, shy Emma Oxley reunites with her brash childhood best friend, Nellie Yarrow, who convinces her to cut a champagne-drenched swath through the grand hotels and exclusive clubs of Europe, stealing luxury goods from bad men along the way. They swear only to rob from those they believe deserve much worse, and soon develop a reputation as some of the most squeaky-clean purveyors of stolen goods on the dark web. But when a mysterious man kidnaps Nellie, then blackmails Emma into stealing a priceless bracelet from a museum exhibit, she might have to break her own rules of conduct. As Emma attempts to appease, then track down, Nellie’s kidnappers, she gets tangled in a dangerous web of criminal activity, and must turn to some of the men she’s swindled for help extricating herself. With plenty of gleaming locales to satisfy armchair travelers and an engrossing crime plot to boot, this has the makings of a series. Fans of Janet Evanovich and Elle Cosimano will be pleased. Agent: Hayley Steed, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (July)