Not so much mystery as sort of political thriller if it was written by someone who was doing research by watching intrigue movies. ( )

The opening scene in Ellen Crosby's first Sophie Medina novel had me hooked, and I stayed hooked with her excellent story and pacing. When I learned that Nick was a CIA operative, I felt a twinge of unease because I am not a fan of spy thrillers, so I am happy to say that the espionage never went overboard in Multiple Exposure.

Crosby's characters are another reason why i was hooked. Sophie is one smart woman, and she thinks well on her feet-- which is a necessity when you're being shadowed by spies, agents, oligarch's thugs, etc. Except for one slight glitch with a purse, Sophie doesn't do dumb stuff either. Her supporting cast is a strong one as well-- her stepfather Harry and her mother as well as her closest friends, Father Jack and Grace, add depth to an engrossing story. Even Washington, DC is a marvelous character. Throughout Sophie's travels in the city, I learned some fascinating facts about our nation's capital while I was being entertained.

To story, pacing, characters, and setting, add two never-before-seen Fabergé Imperial Easter eggs. I was in a little slice of fiction heaven, and I look forward to reading Sophie's next adventure in Ghost Image. ( )

I enjoyed reading this book quite a bit. I was rather surprised on how simple the story was and yet it kept me glued to my seat when I was reading. Unlike many characters in such books, I could believe and understand almost every single decision Sophie Medina made. Most of the time there seems to be a need to make some kind of stupid choice just to up the tension.

The last time Sophie talks to her husband is just before she boards a flight home to London. She works as a photographer for a news agency and has been abroad for a couple weeks. After getting home she finds blood and the signs of a struggle in the house. Her husband is missing and she calls the authorities, only they aren’t the local police. Her husband was a spook for the US so she calls in ‘his people’ to have the first go around.

Days later a car is found abandoned in the Alps with some of his blood in it. Not only was Nick a spy, he also had a legitimate job with a small oil company that was working in a poor area of Russia itching to declare its independence. His disappearance could easily be related to either job. Then his civilian boss is found murdered in Italy, and the log books of what was discovered went missing. It appeared to be about oil, which means money.

After months of worry and no ransom demands everyone has assumed Nick is dead, when suddenly there is a reliable report that he has been spotted walking down a street in Russia. Sophie is thrown into emotional turmoil again. The biggest question is ‘if he’s alive, why hasn’t he contacted me?’.

I felt this was a great story and really enjoyed reading it. It is not a fast-paced thriller nor is a twisted mystery. It isn’t quite a cozy but it leans that way. I’ll have to keep an eye out for some of Ellen Crosby’s other work. ( )

Decent ( )