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August 10, 2015
Dunlap’s engaging sixth Darcy Lott mystery (after 2012’s No Footprints) finds the San Francisco stuntwoman in fine form, at least physically. The shortage of jobs as the movie industry moves to cheaper, more welcoming cities doesn’t make Darcy happy, but that issue takes second place when Garson-roshi, her Zen teacher, is beaten by a hooded thug who breaks into their meditation room. Darcy tries to balance her search for the thug—which involves a certain amount of prying into Garson-roshi’s private life—and her excitement at being offered some important stunt work in an upcoming film. Both parts of the story ring true, as the author clearly knows a good deal about stunt work as well as Zen practice. Complications abound in the forms of a protective brother, a stuntwoman-wannabe, and a reporter who suspects Garson-roshi of being involved in human trafficking. Whether these well-drawn characters are being helpful or impeding progress isn’t always clear—and that is their charm. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary Agency.