The Big Fix

Grimes’s third Ciel Halligan contemporary caper (after Quick Fix) combines elements of a complicated romance with hints of Hollywood and the paranormal. Ciel is just one in a long line of aura adaptors: humans who were born with a slight genetic quirk that allows them to take on the appearance of anyone they come in contact with. Like most of her family, Ciel makes her living using her gift, primarily impersonating Hollywood stars. When the wife of the actor she’s standing in for turns up dead, Ciel turns to two of her fellow adaptors: her boyfriend, Billy, and their mutual friend (on whom she has a crush), Mark. However, it takes the whole family to manage this mystery. Self-referential humor combines beautifully with fast-paced action and suspense. The warm, merry vibe of Ciel’s large family and the continuity from previous books are simply added bonuses to the exceptionally well-told story. A moment of ambiguity concerning identity and sexual consent provides the only slightly discordant note in an otherwise juicy tale that will thrill fans of romance, mystery, and the supernatural. Agent: Michelle Wolfson, Wolfson Literary Agency. (May)