*** 3.7 Stars ***
I always love the quick reads in this series. Kat and Harry are always fun and their witty banter during the tense moments of an investigation is very entertaining. For some reason, this time, the book just didn’t resonate with me. It almost seemed as if Kat and Harry were cartoon versions of themselves or something. I think maybe the circumstances and the plot just seemed ‘off’ somehow. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but it just doesn’t come up to the caliber of the other books in the series.

Kat and Harry, Lord and Lady Mortimer, have long wanted to make a trip from England to New York so Harry can meet Kat’s family. Harry is so excited about their arrival, and he can hardly wait to begin seeing New York through Kat’s eyes. Of course, the best-laid plans often go astray and theirs certainly did. As soon as they check into their hotel, Kat receives an urgent message from her old mentor. Groan! Should they go see why they are needed – especially since the message said it was a matter of life and death.

There has been a kidnapping involving the grandson of one of New York’s richest moguls and Kat and Harry are needed to assure he is safely returned – and to recover the money if possible. With betrayals, mobsters, and dysfunctional families, the poor young man who was kidnapped may not make it home alive.

I liked Kat’s family and would have liked to spend more page time with them. It would have been much more interesting to have them more involved in the mystery – or maybe even to have the mystery revolve around them somehow. Bringing the strangers into it just cut out time we could have spent getting to know the Reilly family.

I enjoyed this book, but it definitely isn’t my favorite of the series. ( )

family-dynamics, friendship, family, 1930, sleuth, kidnapping, NYC, husband-and-wife-team, investigation, cosy-mystery, historical-fiction, historical-research, suspense, sly-humor, short, law-enforcement, gangsters
*****
This installment skips over the ocean crossing on the Mauritania and starts after Harry and Kat arrive in NYC. Before they even have a chance for Kat to show Harry around her hometown, they are asked to help a wealthy family whose youngest has been kidnapped and ransom demand has been made. They reluctantly agree and give the case their considerable attention and expertise (complete with chases, mobsters, and a shootout!).
Whether you've kept up with this series, haven't read one in over a year, or never read one at all, I guarantee that you'll be as caught up in this one as I was.
Nathaniel Parker brings the characters alive and keeps the accents different enough to make it easy to know which character is speaking as well as adding to the suspense! ( )