The Manolo Matrix
Julie Kenner
Downtown, Feb 2006, $13.00, 352 pp.
ISBN: 0743496140

The Internet game "Play-Survive-Win" involves three participants: Target, Protector, and Assassin. The Protector must prevent the Assassin from killing the Target, who seeks to obtain a code that if entered before death, they survive rich; but if killed, the Assassin earns the award money. Someone has brought PSW to the real world with permanent death as a strong possibility.

Manhattan waitress and wannabe performer Jennifer Martin signed up years ago to play PSW online, but never did. Now she is notified, just like her former roommate had been (see THE GIVENCHY CODE), that she is playing the game in the real world as a Protector of suspended FBI Agent Devlin Brady, who was involved in the last game. Jen takes the threat serious, but a guilt laden Devlin feeling remorse over killing his partner, welcomes the Assassin's bullet. That is until he realizes Jen could die for him. The Target protects the Protector, while they work together to solve PSW before the assassin can kill either of them; making matters even more dangerous, the Assassin has a grudge against her Target.

The latest PSW thriller is an action-packed yet character driven romantic suspense tale, that never slows down, once Jen, who takes the PSW notification email seriously, struggles to get the Target motivated. In fact the only reason Devlin plays is he feels a need to protect his protector. The Assassin is perfect, as she sees an opportunity to avenge Devlin for doing his job by locking her away. The MANOLO MATRIX is magnificent.