Dan Shapiro, an importer and exporter with Mafioso connections has been murdered. Four (that's Sophie's spy name) is on the trail. Shapiro's son Marc-Paul may be the killer. Or he may be a target. Sophie herself is somehow a target. She's shot at and run down by an anonymous American Ford while in Manhattan.

So Sophie goes to Longford Grammar, land of A-Levels and teen girl cliques, to try try become Marc's friend. She didn't make the A-list her first go round as a teen, and it isn't much better as a grownup. But Ted, her aging car, makes her useful to the in crowd.

Author Kate Johnson gives us more bodies, more bruises, and some real insight into Sophie's love life here.

Sophie is a chick lit joy, smart, sassy and more than a bit unsure of herself. The supporting characters are true individuals. Fellow spies mild-mannered Harvey and brooding Irish Docherty are still in the picture. Harvey's twin brother Xander, a gay artist who composes life portraits, is a suspect. The body was in Xander's apartment for a while, and the murder weapon belongs to him. Sophie's handsome partner Luke is still a delectable presence, bedding our heroine and getting ready to commit.

The mystery's solution is logical and fascinating, as is the relationship between Luke and Sophie. The book stands on its own, but whets the appetite for others in the series. It's a great story, and I can hardly wait to see what happens next.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Mildly sensual

Reviewer: Lynn Bushey
November 5, 2007