Review: 4.0 on the Masq Scale
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 12, 2013
Staci T.'s ReviewDouble Mayhem: A Seekers Mystery by Sam Berretti is a mystery novel that is part thriller, part suspense, and part romance, with just a hint of the supernatural sprinkled in. Doris Watson, an engineer with former military training, witnesses an attack in a restaurant and saves a little girl's life. From there, circumstances spiral out of control when she says "yes" to one question posed to her--"Will you fill in for your doppelganger and help your government?"--and her boring life is turned upside down...forever. Two seemingly unrelated scenarios merge into one massive adrenaline-filled event that she may not manage to live through.This novel focuses on two separate mysteries. The first is the doppelganger issue, which sends Watson into the spy world. Gadgets, guns, misdirection, and lies take her from a simple bag drop into a life-and-death situation. There's also a little matter of the chemistry brewing between her and the mysterious man running the op. Compounding problems is the little girl Watson saved in the restaurant--and the detective who's protecting her from hit men. Watson and the girl instantly bond, and she has a strong connection with the cop, too. But are any of the people she's helping who they claim to be?This novel has a complex, intricate plot. There are several players to keep track of, not to mention many of them go by different names at different times. The most difficult part of the novel is the beginning; readers are bounced from one point of view to another in a very short time, and it's hard to know who the main character is, let alone bond with her. There are other instances in the book where the author switches point of view without any kind of clue to the reader. If you don't mind putting the effort in to keep track of the characters, then this is a book you'll enjoy. The pace is solid, the plot is interesting, and the characters are wonderfully multifaceted.Review Disclaimer: Book provided in exchange for an honest review.