Queens Ransom: A Sofie Metropolis Novel

Near the outset of Carrington's exuberant sixth Sofie Metropolis mystery (after 2011's Love Bites), the oversized brother of George Abramopoulos, "the Greek Donald Trump without the hype," yanks Sofie out of her car near her Astoria, Queens, home. Abramopoulos, it turns out, wants Sophie's help locating his seven-year-old daughter, who on the previous day was snatched outside her school, possibly by his ex-wife. No one has as yet demanded a ransom. Sofie soon finds herself facing the ex-wife's abrasive, shotgun-wielding brother%E2%80%94and later being interrogated by the FBI while bound hand and foot to a chair. Meanwhile, Sophie yearns for sweet, mom-approved baker Dino Antonopoulos, though she's equally drawn to mysterious Australian bounty hunter Jake Porter. Solving the kidnapping case takes a back seat to the disorderly cast of characters, particularly sassy and likable Sofie. If you're on the lookout for a Greek crisis, Sofie's is probably the most entertaining one you'll find. Agent: Robert Gottlieb, Trident Media. (Oct.)