Elizabeth Beverly Express Male

Express Male

Elizabeth Beverly

HQN, Jun 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 0373771126

In Cleveland pianist Marnie Lundy dreams of playing at Carnegie, but for now plays at Lauderdale's department store. One night after work in the parking lot, a man arrives handing her a package; another man tries to take the package; and a third man succeeds, but snatches her too. Marnie has no idea what is going on, but each male called her Lila.

The third man says his name is Noah Tennant code name "Sinatra"; that the first individual was the Philosopher and the second the Sorcerer. His top secret Office of Political Unity and Security (OPUS) has been searching for Lila for five months and the Sorcerer for two years. She insists she is not Lila, but Marnie. As he learns she is telling the truth, he investigates why two women look identical and recruits Marnie to help them find their best agent the missing for five months Lila and the lethal treacherous Sorcerer.

Like Marnie readers will wonder who slipped that hallucinatory drug in her water from the moment the frightened Philosopher dumps his "book" on her until the final confrontation between her and Sinatra as she forces him to sing what is in his heart. The story line is action-packed with Elizabeth Bevarly lampooning espionage thrillers while providing a strong romantic suspense thriller. The Lila-Marnie scenario is obvious yet the audience will not care as fans will wonder if OPUS is what Homeland security is all about in a fun sequel to YOU GOT MALE.

Harriet Klausner