False Money: An Abbot Agency Mystery

At the start of Heley's uninspired fifth Abbot Agency mystery (after 2010's False Pretences), 19-year-old Chris, a friend of Bea Abbot's adopted son, Oliver, surprises Bea with a bouquet of flowers at her London office. Chris uses his charm to persuade a reluctant Bea to track down Tomi, a young woman who came to the U.K. from Nigeria with her doctor parents when she was two. The stunning Tomi, who acted in a short film Chris made the year before, is now missing. Meanwhile, Claire, a short-term day nanny, contemplates murder. Unfortunately, passages from Claire's perspective often identify the name of her next intended victim and the means she plans to employ, undercutting the suspense. The motive behind the killings will strike many as a letdown, though series fans will enjoy visiting with old friends. (Apr.)