The Catch

May 5, 2014
Bestseller Stevens’s flawed fourth series thriller (after 2013’s The Doll), takes Vanessa Michael Munroe, who has had enough of the world of information brokering, to the Horn of Africa. Munroe is hopeful that chaos-filled Djibouti will soothe her inner lust for violence, but she’s quickly disillusioned when her employer, Leo, forces her to work as a guard aboard a ship, the Favorita, headed toward Somalia. When Somali pirates attack, Munroe narrowly escapes with the Favorita’s wounded captain in tow, then vows to return and defeat the hijackers. Unfortunately, Munroe lacks a clear motivation for rescuing the ship—she loathes Leo, and has no fondness for the crew. Stevens attempts to provide a realistic portrayal of eastern Africa, but readers are likely to find themselves cringing at some overgeneralizations (e.g., “Theft was the way of the continent”). On the plus side, Munroe makes for an intriguing action hero, and the fight scenes are refreshingly stark and well paced. Agent: Anne Hawkins, John Hawkins & Associates.

June 1, 2014

Vanessa Michael Munroe can't escape who she is. Or can she? Stevens's fourth novel (after The Doll) finds Munroe trying to get rid of her personal demons. She is hiding out in Africa by working for a small security company that protects ships at sea. But nothing is ever routine as Vanessa finds out when she discovers that the ship they are guarding is smuggling guns with her employer's knowledge. Soon after, the ship is attacked and boarded by pirates, who, it turns out, are not after the weapons--but the captain. In the melee Vanessa is just able to escape the ship with her life and the now unconscious captain. Why would pirates go to such lengths to kidnap this officer? She will have to solve this mystery quickly, and with the utmost care, if there is any hope of staying alive and getting her crew back. VERDICT Thriller fans will be immediately sucked into this life-or-death tale as Stevens's fast-paced plot and indomitable and justice-driven heroine keep the pages turning. [See Prepub Alert, 1/10/14; five-city tour; significant library marketing.]--Susan Moritz, Silver Spring, MD

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