They also end up the focus of a dangerous group of people who believe that Alex now has the object they have already killed two people to obtain. What exactly this object is, no one seems to want to be clear about, but whatever it is, Alex must find some way to prove he doesn't have it. He soon learns how hard it can be to prove a negative. The State Department officials who have taken over the case seem much less interested in catching Mason and Ryan's murderers than they are in returning the mysterious "object." For once, the CIA is not involved, and the threesome's part time work for the agency does not appear to be a factor. But if justice is to be found, it looks like it's going to be up to Alex and company.

This is the third in a fun series, though previous reading is not a requirement. I really love this team of Alex, Peter, and Alex's mother. Jean Reynolds is quick-witted and full of useful schemes (even if Alex does compare her to Lucy Ricardo and himself to Ethel Mertz). Plus, her words of wisdom have been known to come in pretty useful. "For the second time that day I had a flashback. It was to when I told Mother that I was gay. I don't know what kind of response I expected, but after blinking at me once, she said, 'Well, if you're going to be gay then I'm going to have to teach you about men. There are two things you have to remember; Never sleep with one on the first date, and a well-placed knee can solve many a sticky situation.'"

Peter is pretty wonderful too, everything a husband (gay or straight) should be. Facing the deaths of their two friends makes them even more aware of how lucky they are.

Alex, our narrator, pulls it all together. When outside forces make the case begin to resemble a treasure hunt, he keeps his sights on the goal of justice for his two friends. The story is told with a sense of humor, but there are some serious moments as well. This was fast paced, entertaining, and all in all a good read.

--Jeri Wright