FLEECED

A couple of old card-playing buddies have just decided to donate four million dollars worth of diamonds to their gentlemen's club when both of them die the same day. Private detective Regan Reilly must find out whether they were murdered and by whom, and locate the precious gems. Laura Hicks's deft touch balances a light tale full of misadventure and malapropisms. Clark's skill at creating comedic characters with their own quirky souls gives Hicks plenty of material to work with. The club's beleaguered manager and his old-fashioned girlfriend; an aging, almost successful actress; the chatty club housekeeper; a smarmy movie producer; a ditzy dating service director; convincing con artists; and an aspiring builder of a butler academy all receive hilarious characterization. R.P.L. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 02]