The Catch

Bestseller Stevens’s flawed fourth series thriller (after 2013’s The Doll), takes Vanessa Michael Munroe, who has had enough of the world of information brokering, to the Horn of Africa. Munroe is hopeful that chaos-filled Djibouti will soothe her inner lust for violence, but she’s quickly disillusioned when her employer, Leo, forces her to work as a guard aboard a ship, the Favorita, headed toward Somalia. When Somali pirates attack, Munroe narrowly escapes with the Favorita’s wounded captain in tow, then vows to return and defeat the hijackers. Unfortunately, Munroe lacks a clear motivation for rescuing the ship—she loathes Leo, and has no fondness for the crew. Stevens attempts to provide a realistic portrayal of eastern Africa, but readers are likely to find themselves cringing at some overgeneralizations (e.g., “Theft was the way of the continent”). On the plus side, Munroe makes for an intriguing action hero, and the fight scenes are refreshingly stark and well paced. Agent: Anne Hawkins, John Hawkins & Associates. (July)