She Treads Softly: The Recovery Agent

Monday, March 14, 2022

The Recovery Agent

The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich
3/22/22; 320 pages
Simon & Schuster
Gabriela Rose #1

The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich is a very highly recommended thriller that is full of adventure and laughs.

Gabriela Rose is a recovery agent, or insurance fraud investigator, it all depends upon the job. She is hired to find lost heirlooms, treasures, or any missing asset. In this first outing of a new series Gabriela is working to help her family and their neighbors to repair the damage in the little town of Scoon, S.C.. She's using a map made by her pirate ancestor, Blackbeard, that is reputed to show the location of a long-lost treasure and the Ring of Solomon. The location of the treasure is in the jungles of Peru. The only catch is that her ex-husband, Rafer, is coming along to assist.

Even though it is full of coincidences and you know everything is going to turn out okay even in the most dire of circumstances, this is one enjoyable, fun, and laughter filled romp around the Caribbean, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, New York City, and California wine country. I laughed aloud multiple times while reading and enjoyed every second of this farcical adventure story. Take this comical exchange for example, one that left me guffawing: "I have children and cats. What will become of them?” “You’re married?” Gabriela asked. “No... I just have children and cats." Sometimes you just need a novel that is full of adventure and humor.

Gabriela Rose was introduced in a Stephanie Plum novel, Fortune and Glory (#27) and she is a great new character. She’s witty, intelligent, reliable, cool under pressure, able to think on her feet, and well trained in weapons of all types. She's not scared of snakes, getting dirty, or bad guys. Gabriela is simply a delightful character to meet and I'm thrilled about it. Sure, she's not a well-drawn character full of depth and insightful comments yet, but that will come with time. Her character is introduced and developed here, with room for more insight in the next book. She is an entertaining, humorous addition to Evanovich's line up of characters and I can't wait for her next adventure - with or without her ex, Rafer.

This is a perfect read for escapism, humor, suspense, and a bit of romance. Featuring excellent writing, the plot gallops at a fast pace and keeps racing right to the conclusion. There are twists and surprises along the way to keep you focused and entertained along with plenty of humor. 4.5 rounded up

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Simon & Schuster via NetGalley.

No comments:

Post a Comment

John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.