This is the first book in Janet Evanovich's new comical mystery series, written with Phoef Sutton, about Emerson Knight and Riley Moon - an oddball billionaire and junior financial analyst who solve crimes together.
*****
With degrees from Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School, 28-year-old Riley Moon - who just started working at the Blane-Grunwald Bank in Washington DC - hopes to climb the corporate ladder.
The huge bank, which has international clients and substantial gold reserves, is owned by the Grunwald family. Of the four Grunwald brothers, two work at the bank: Werner Grunwald is the director and Günter Grunwald is an account manager.
Günter was scheduled to call on eccentric billionaire Emerson Knight, to discuss Knight's newly inherited assets, but the banker hasn't been seen or heard from for weeks. Thus, Riley - a junior analyst - is dispatched to Knight's home, Mysterioso Manor.
When Riley arrives at the enormous residence, which looks like it was designed by wealthy fairy tale witches, she sees an irate cleaning lady rushing off, yelling "You’re all whacko. And I’m not cleaning up after no damn armadillo.”
Soon afterwards, Riley observes said armadillo trotting down the mansion's hallway; meets 'Emmie's' Aunt Myra - who looks like a disheveled refugee from the Dust Bowl; and encounters the billionaire himself - a strikingly handsome man who listens to 1970s go-go funk (“I feel like bustin’ loose. Bustin’ loose!”), and claims he can 'cloud people's minds.' Riley decides that Emerson is "physically a ten, but intellectually a certifiable fruit basket."
When Riley brings up Emerson's assets, the billionaire expresses concern about Günter's disappearance, and grave doubts about the management and security of his assets. Riley assures Emerson that his money is in good hands, but the tycoon insists that he wants to withdraw his holdings.....in gold. Emerson accompanies Riley back to the bank, and insists he AT LEAST wants to SEE his gold. Emerson also declares that he's going to search for the missing Günter.
Bank director Werner Grunwald assigns Riley to 'babysit' Knight as the billionaire begins his dual quest, and she reluctantly complies. (Riley didn't go to Harvard to be a nanny!)
The tycoon turns out to be more savvy than Riley thought, and he soon uncovers a vast conspiracy to steal the nation's gold reserves. Emerson is determined to expose the culprits, and - to further that goal - he and Riley rush around to the country's gold vaults, in Washington DC, New York, and Nevada.
The duo meet an interesting array of characters along the way, including: bank officials from Mauritius, who provide valuable help; a dental hygienist called Xandy - who's familiar with Nevada's Area 51 and lives in fear of being probed by aliens; and an assortment of dastardly villains, some VERY high in government circles, who want to kill them.
Emerson and Riley have a fun dynamic: the tycoon teases Riley about her Texas accent and favorite exclamation, "Crap on a cracker" and the analyst makes fun of Emerson's alleged 'supernatural powers.' As the story unfolds, they become an effective team, and I can see a possible romance developing as the series continues.
The book is entertaining, but lacks the outright hilarity of Evanovich's popular 'Stephanie Plum' series - which has REALLY wacky characters. Still, the story is amusing and I'd recommend it to fans of humorous mysteries.
Rating: 3 stars
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