Land Sharks: A Swindle in Sumatra

Lexi Winslow is a bank fraud investigator, and she is good at her job. So much so that her company's biggest client has asked her to travel to Sumatra, even though it’s for a personal issue, not work related. Her task is to find whether their client's daughter Karista, has been kidnapped, or went willingly with her “new boyfriend”. Riding along will be her boss’s son, Steve, who is untrained and has a crush on Lexi. Babysitting the boss’s son is not what she needs to be focusing on.

A person from Lexi’s past just happens to be in Sumatra as well. Coincidence? Andre Van der Meer has a shady past, and his occupation as a thief is one that has Lexi tied up in knots. Her job and her emotions for Andre are at war with one another. Why is he at the same resort? Will he help or hinder her investigation? Finding Karista turns out to be way more than she bargained for, and not one she is sure her and her compatriots will survive.

Ms. Smith has chosen a wonderful, lush tropical setting for her story. Written in first person, there are quite a few characters to keep track of and one must pay attention, especially when the protagonists reach Sumatra. Once all the characters are in play, it’s not hard to figure out who the bad guys are in this mystery. The story and characters could use a bit more depth as well. A clean story with no harsh or explicit language, this would be an enjoyable afternoon read. 

Lynne Bryant