With this grin-on-your-face, hair-streaming-in-the-wind joyride of a novel, Enoch (England's Perfect Hero
) takes a confident leap from historical to contemporary, giving readers a sensual romantic caper sure to win applause. Lightly modeled on To Catch a Thief
, this tale launches with Samantha Jellicoe, cat burglar extraordinaire, breaking into the Palm Beach mansion of fabulously wealthy businessman Richard Addison, then saving Richard's life when a bomb is triggered halfway through her heist. Was the bomb designed to destroy evidence of an earlier theft, to kill Richard or to target Sam? With Richard wanting answers and Sam needing to clear herself of a murder charge, this unlikely duo teams up in an investigation that goes from professional to personal faster than you can say "counterfeit Picasso." But with each clue discovered—and each new murder attempt—the puzzle grows more elaborate. Refreshingly, Enoch makes no excuses for Sam's shady career choice or Richard's business ruthlessness, relying on the characters to create their own sympathy, and while Sam and Richard take tentative steps toward a real relationship, Enoch's surefootedness is apparent on every page. Though some readers may be disappointed by the lack of a traditional happily-ever-after, others will cheerfully await Sam and Richard's next adventure. Agent, Nancy Yost. (Mar.)
