Misty P. (prokopmisty) reviewed on 5/13/2007 + 40 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Caroline Burnes takes readers and her crime-solving cat on an exciting Egyptian adventure in the latest Familiar mystery, "Familiar Mirage." Archeologist Beth Bradshaw is on the trail of a legendary lost city in Egypt. Omar Dukhan is sworn to keep it hidden. Posing as her desert guide, Omar is determined to prevent Beth from finding what she's looking for. He's not the only one. Can a certain feline detective play matchmaker and help Beth find who poses a bigger threat to her mission, and her life?
"Familiar Mirage" is a very different kind of Intrigue, a larger-than-life tale that sweeps readers into a grand adventure. Taking place entirely in a foreign setting (finally!), it's the perfect story for readers looking for a fun escape. It's not a very deep book, but it is loads of fun.

Burnes has come up with some interesting details that take advantage of her exotic locale in a story that is a welcome change of pace. The conflict between Omar and Beth adds to the drama. He has vowed to his people that he will keep the city a secret. If she doesn't find it, her professional reputation will be destroyed. This isn't one of those stupid misunderstandings, but a real conflict that leaves you wondering how they'll work through it. The author keeps readers on their toes trying to figure out who's a bad guy and who's not, until it doesn't look like anyone can be trusted. No one does strong heroines like Burnes, women who refuse to back down in the face of adversity, women who don't cry and wait for the hero to save them, and Beth's determination makes her worth rooting for. Readers who enjoy swarthy, mysterious men will relish Omar.

An exciting and dramatic tale, "Familiar Mirage" is an entertaining read and should whet reader's appetites for next month's sequel, "Familiar Oasis."

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