Chinese Cooking For Diamond Thieves: A Hilarious Suspense Thriller Where Romance Meets Martial Arts

by Dave Lowry

Driving home after being kicked out of college, Tucker meets and picks up the mysterious Corinne Chang at a rest stop. Infatuated, and with nothing better to do, he ends up with her in St. Louis, where he gets a job as a chef in a Chinese restaurant. Even though he’s a gwai lo —a foreign devil—his cooking skills impress the Chinese patrons of the restaurant, and his wooing skills impress Corinne when she joins him there as a waitress. But when Chinese gangsters show up demanding diamonds they believe Tucker’s kind-of, sort-of, don’t-call-her-a-girlfriend stole, he and his friends—which luckily include a couple of FBI agents—have to figure out just who is gunning for Corinne and how to stop them. Good thing Tucker is a Mandarin-speaking martial arts master who isn’t afraid to throw the first punch. With its one-of-a-kind hero, Chinese Cooking for Diamond Thieves is perfect for anyone who loves cooking, Chinese culture, bad jokes, and young love. Diamonds are forever . . . unless Chinese mobsters decide they want them back.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Humor, Mystery Thriller, Food, Adventure, Contemporary

278 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Chantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an enjoyable and absolutely hilarious read! The novel is so different from everything I've read and I found myself actually laughing out loud several times throughout because of the witty banter and heaps of sarcasm. Chinese Cooking for Diamond Thieves is fast-paced and even though the story isn't really exciting per se I still wanted to read on and know what happens next.

I loved Tucker, our protagonist, he is so much fun, so sarcastic, witty and clever and reading his internal monologue just always cracked me up. Plus, he practices martial arts, speaks fluent Mandarin and cooks Chinese food better than most natives. What's not to love?

You can definitely tell that Dave Lowry knows a lot about martial arts and cooking and at times the descriptions in this novel were almost like reading a non-fiction book. Personally, I wasn't bothered by that because I love to cook and am obsessed with Chinese culture, but I understand that it puts off some readers.

Also, isn't the title just awsome??

I would recommend Chinese Cooking for Diamond Thieves to anyone who enjoys cooking and/or Chinese culture and is in the mood for a funny, quick and easy read.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure exactly why I decided to take a chance on this novel but I am so glad I did. Funny, clever and fresh, Chinese Cooking for Diamond Thieves by Dave Lowry is a fabulously entertaining blend of mystery, action, a touch of awkward romance, and Chinese cooking.

Having been kicked out of college just before graduation, Tucker is heading home to Missouri in his aging Toyota when he crosses paths with the attractive and enigmatic Corrine Chang, making her way from Canada to Buffalo, NY, at a deserted rest stop. In the absence of any real goal, Tucker offers Corrine a ride, surprising her with his ability to speak Mandarin, and being surprised in turn when he intercepts a threatening phone call. Corrine, it seems, is on the run from a Chinese gang convinced she has $15 million dollars worth of diamonds missing from her employer's store. Despite her protestations of innocence, the gang follows them all the way to St Louis, as intent on capturing Corinne, as Tucker, with a little help from the FBI, is at stopping them.

Chinese Cooking for Diamond Thieves is fast paced with plenty of action and intrigue, and just enough exaggeration to entertain. Snappy dialogue, liberally laced with sarcasm, is delivered with expert timing.

Lowry's protagonist is an unusual guy. The son of white upper middle class parents (his father a retired agent of some description), Tucker practices xing-i, speaks Mandarin (and a little Cantonese) and cooks Chinese food, real Chinese food, with the skill of a native. He is simultaneously a tough guy capable of crippling an enemy with an economy of movement, and achingly vulnerable and self deprecating. The contradiction works perfectly to create a charming, quirky hero, who is supported by an equally appealing cast.

For foodies, there are plenty of tips for cooking authentic Chinese food, and a glimpse into the inner workings of a Chinese restaurant kitchen.

Chinese Cooking for Diamond Thieves is probably best described as a crime caper given the elements of humour, adventure and the offbeat characters. I thought it was witty, clever and interesting and recommend it without hesitation.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was lots of fun. Nothing profound or life changing per se, just a very light quick entertainment. This is Dave Lowry's fiction debut. The man has written a bunch of books on martial arts and is a food critic and this novel certainly showcases both, extensively. There are very detailed (possibly overwhelmingly so) fighting and cooking scenes. If you're a carnivore, the latter might make you hungry, if you're a vegetarian, it'll pretty much disgust you. Kinda funny, possibly ironic, considering that Chinese food is quite well known for their extensive vegetarian options. The characters were slightly too precocious and too mature for their age (21 or so), but charming enough with their ceaselessly witty repartee and boundless quirks. If cute can be used to describe a book, this was a cute book.

[Jamie E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this book!
The dialogue was quick and witty and dry and totally fun. The blurb on the book jacket reads, "With its one-of-a-kind hero, Chinese Cooking for Diamond Thieves is perfect for anyone who loves cooking, Chinese culture, bad jokes, and young love."
I'm a crappy cook, I don't have feelings one way or the other about Chinese culture, bad jokes are bad, and young love is kind of cliche. And this book was GREAT!
If you liked the protagonists in The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death, and/or Beat the Reaper, you'll probably like Tucker (was his last name ever written?).
I'd recommend to anyone and everyone who needs a fun read. :)

[Jun-E · Rating 1 out of 5]

HATED IT. I usually make an effort to finish the books before writing a review, but this has proven to be impossible with this book, as with every passing page I hated the protagonist more, and wanted him to STOP TALKING. I got to page 100, and that's the extent to which I could stomach this poorly written book. I am honestly amazed by all the good reviews that this book has received.

The character himself is unlikeable and unrelatable. Pretentious, self-important, all too perfect - yeah yeah he cooks Chinese food better than a Chinese can, knows martial arts and everything there is to know about Chinese culture, and he's always one step ahead of everyone and anyone. A hero with no weaknesses just ends up being really one-dimensional and boring.

And all throughout the book are all these badly written and stupid Tucker rules, which do not seem to serve any sort of purpose except to show that Tucker is a pompous little 21 year old who thinks he's got the world figured out. They really annoyed me.

Examples of Tucker's rules:
Rule #95 - When you're already lost and clueless, it's best not to clutter things with any more information that's as likely to be superfluous as not. [Pithy.]

Rule #41 - While there might not be any good reasons to go to Buffalo, there could conceivably be a reason to go back. [What sort of rule is this?]

Rule #8 - Hitting people is often bad, but if it's necessary, it's necessary to hit first - always. [In this chapter he assaults someone out of nowhere and makes it sound as if he did the right, heroic thing. So American.]

Rule #19 - Never pick up strangers at a highway rest stop unless they speak Mandarin. [Yeah. Right. Because that happens all the time in one's life, to warrant a rule on the topic.]

On top of that, the book is full of one-liners and quips and witty comebacks - as if anyone actually spoke like that in real life. It smacks of trying too hard, and it got old really quickly, beyond the first few chapters. The banter made the scenes unconvincing. We do not live in a sitcom. Apparently Tucker does.

I want my money and time back.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was addictive, hard to put down, and a lot of fun. When Tucker and Beddingfield College mutually agree to part ways, he decided to follow his bliss, which in this case means avoid his parents (easy, as they're out of the country) and follow his close friend, Langston, to St Louis so he can be a Chinese cook. All well and good, except that Tucker's not Chinese, and the mysterious woman he picks up at a rest stop in New Hampshire, Corinne, seems to somehow be involved in diamonds and the Chinese mob. Tucker's rules are good ones, even if an odd mixture of proverb, cooking tip, and FBI-wisdom (courtesy of his dad). As Tucker proves himself an adept Chinese chef --but not the best in St Louis -- and grows on Corinne, those with designs on Corinne, or the diamonds they believe she stole, they become involved with the FBI, if only for self-preservation. A delicious book!

[Alex Lessin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wait wait, someone wrote an easy to read mystery book that described Chinese food so well you can taste it? And the main character is from the 'burbs of Boston?? This Chinatown lover is game. My only question - does anyone here really call the Zakim the Buckner bridge?

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dave Lowry is a restaurant critic with a keen eye for detail, and his passion for food is evident throughout his fiction debut, "Chinese Cooking For Diamond Thieves."

Feeling out of sorts and like he's on the wrong life path, Tucker drops out of college and embarks on a road trip from New England to St. Louis. His passion is cooking - particularly Chinese food - and he's hoping an old friend in St. Louis can help him get a job.


At a rest stop along the way, he overhears a stranded traveler speaking Mandarin into her phone. He's picked up some of the language from working in Chinese restaurants so he strikes up a conversation with her. They verbally dance for a while, each trying to figure out what angle the other is working, and then she accepts his proffered ride to her destination, Buffalo.

It's a long trip and they spend a night at his parents' house to rest and refresh. While she - Corrine - takes a shower, her phone rings incessantly. Tucker finally answers it, and what he hears on the other end is both cryptic and confusing. He hangs up and deletes the call, not wanting Corrine to know that he had been snooping.

Back on the road, he learns a little more about her. She works for a diamond distributor in Canada and is taking some time off to visit some friends in the states. He recalls what he heard on her phone the previous night and momentarily wonders if she's being completely above-board, but he lets it pass. He finds himself somewhat smitten, and when he drops her off in Buffalo he gives her his phone number and tells her to call if she ever needs anything.

As he's leaving, he's accosted on the sidewalk outside of her apartment building by a Chinese man asking about someone named Wenqian. Tucker thinks it's simply a pretext for a robbery, so he acts first and punches the man in the chest. As the man stumbles away, he says something just as odd as what he heard on Corrine's phone.

Tucker makes it to St. Louis, lands a job in a Chinese restaurant, and settles into his post-college life. One day he receives a call from Corrine - would he be willing to pick her up in Buffalo and bring her to St. Louis? She doesn't really give him a solid answer as to why, and he wonders if the nervousness he hears in her voice is just his imagination. Still, he agrees and takes a few days off from work to pick her up. On the way back they get to know each other better and even do a bit of sight-seeing.

The story thus far is basically a boy-meets-girl tale, but once Corrine gets to St. Louis it branches out into more adventurous territory. What happened with Corrine in Canada? Why does the FBI come calling? Who is Wenqian? Is Corrine on the run? Is Tucker in danger because of his association with her?

While not a hard-core or overly-complicated caper novel, "Chinese Cooking For Diamond Thieves" is an entertaining read with a satisfying - if not completely unexpected - ending, and a perfect read for a lazy summer day.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our hero, Tucker, is a lao wei in St. Louis, Missouri, trying to become a Chinese chef. Tucker is the best kind of unreliable narrator, beginning his list of dozens of rules with keep it simple, and trying to be completely honest from his very subjective perspective.

Fortunately, Tucker’s Mandarin is better than mine, so he’s able to eavesdrop on full speed Chinese, instead of just perking up at colors, numbers or yingwen laoshi out of a conversation. (Look, I’m able to do basic tasks in Chinese, but I talk like a baby.) So, when he overhears a girl at a rest stop telling her friend in Mandarin that she’s stranded, he gallantly offers her a ride. Also, she’s incredibly hot, because in fiction, stranded girls are always hot.  The early-twenties romantic plotline wasn’t bad, ticking all the required boxes for witty banter, quirky semi-dates, and sexual tension that must be fulfilled when a Very Smart Guy falls in love with a Mysterious Girl, but fortunately, it's not the focus of the novel.

Spoiler, or I guess, an un-spoiler: The diamonds are not hidden in the New Hampshire rest stop, so the novel doesn’t end with Corinne and Tucker retrieving the diamonds from the spot where they met. (I was expecting that for about two-thirds of the novel, and was pleasantly surprised when it didn’t happen.)

The diamond thievery is interesting, and in general, the secondary characters are quite believable. Bao Yu, especially, is a lifelike mix of mockery and shyness.  In China, when someone calls you by a polite, formal name and asks if you had a nice weekend, they probably hate you. A real friend will call you Chubby or Sleepyhead or Slowpoke or something else mildly insulting. (I happen to know the Mandarin for zits — dou dou — because it was the affectionate nickname of one of the secretaries in my Yantai school. Ouch.) As Tucker gains friends in the restaurant kitchen, he naturally trades casual insults far worse than grass mud horse. It was a little bit odd how many of the English-speaking characters all spoke in the same snarky banter, but I chalked it up to Tucker’s narration, the way a friend will recount events in their own words, putting their own speech patterns on repeated dialogue.

Chinese Cooking for Diamond Thieves is an engaging, readable novel about new-adult identity, Chinese cooking and customs, and avoiding murderous Hong Kong gangsters in the midwest.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best novels I have read in a very long time.

Dave Lowry is a long established author of non-fiction and is one of those oh so rare modern authors who has both a command of language that keeps your attention as your read and has mastered the dictum to "write what you know." Professionally, Lowry is a restaurant critic while he is also an exceptional authority on martial arts. "Chinese Cooking for Diamond Thieves" deftly combines his knowledge of both fields as it focuses on a college drop out who finds himself working as a chef in a Chinese restaurant and also possesses proficiency in Chinese martial arts. The main character, Tucker, finds himself involved with a woman who may or may not be involved in a heist of diamonds which just happen to belong to a Chinese gang (who are perhaps understandably interested in regaining their lost resources).

Lowry's prose are reminiscent of his non-fiction offerings which is actually good news as he is an extremely gifted prose author. Unlike many martial art "authors" Lowry has done the nearly unthinkable: became proficient in the field of writing by spending what I can only assume is at least as much time training in that craft as he does in martial arts. (Would that those who decide to become martial arts "movie stars" would do the same with their acting skills - but that is a complaint for a different time). The writing is reminiscent of Lowry's memoirs which highlight great dialogue and an ability to weave interesting and obscure facts into the narrative in such a way that it helps propel the story and develop the reader's understanding of the characters.

"Chinese Cooking for Diamond Thieves" is a compelling read and suffers from the one weakness Lowry's others works do: the ending comes much to quickly. Finishing the book was bittersweet because reading Lowry's prose falls into the same category for me as authors such as Jack Vance, Chesterton, John C. Wright, and a few others, viz. I would read their grocery list if I had the opportunity their work is that good. The experience is great but once you're finished you're disappointed it's over. I can only hope Lowry has another novel planned for the not too distant future.

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is narrated by Tucker, lately of Beddingfield College, who happens to be a highly skilled Chinese chef, a martial arts practitioner and he also speaks Mandarin. After picking up hitchhiker Corinne Chang, a gemologist from Montreal, on his way to St Louis to hook up with his best friend, Langston Wu, they are entangled in a caper involving criminals, diamonds, murder and the FBI.
Each chapter begins with one of Tucker’s rules, of which he seems to have an unending list, relating to unfolding events..

Tucker is a charming protagonist, if a little unconventional, full of quick, witty dialogue, tough yet sensitive. The banter between him and Corinne is fun and their attraction to each other is touching. Original and off-beat characters, Chinese culture in-depth and romance, sometimes it’s a refreshing change to have a more lighthearted mystery without the deep and dark aspect. The action scenes with Tucker using xing-i, his preferred form of martial arts, are well written and very interesting.

The author is unmistakably very knowledgable about Chinese food, it’s preparation and cooking, as well as the workings of a Chinese restaurant kitchen. It was interesting to follow ‘a day in the life’ of a chef and fun to have an insider’s view of the kitchen and what goes on, especially the insults that are thrown back and forth as a matter of course and in a non serious way.

For me, a little more time could have been spent on the plot and the characters, the cookery and food descriptions, although incredibly and deliciously detailed, seemed to take over at times and overshadow the main story.

[Mayisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had initially picked this book up because it seemed like the kind of book I would enjoy, but never actually touch. And it was. To start, this was not a book I could read in one sitting. In fact, I broke it up over the course of almost a week (which is really unheard of for me! I love blazing through books in one sitting). The reason being is that:

This book deserves more than a rapid read through! They say that it's the journey that matters, and not the destination, and that is so true. This book meanders and wanders and very rarely ever gets straight to the point, but the characters and plot really draw you in.

Now, to get to specifics, Tucker has just left college and is driving home when he suddenly comes across Corinne Chang at a highway stop. From there, he gets drawn into a mystery and adventure consisting of diamonds and Chinese food. The reason why I continued reading this book (even when I was tired or bored) was because Tucker is an immensely captivating character. He's all dry wit and astute observations, and it's ironic that as a white dude, he loves Chinese culture, food, and speaks Mandarin pretty well. Even though the plot comes off as thrilling, it reads mildly, but maintains your interest.

Honestly: this was a great summer read because it didn't get your heart pounding or make you anxious, but it did keep your attention and was still funny and exciting, and made me hungry for Chinese food.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I DNF’d this one. I was going to finish out of sheer stubbornness but realized I could spend my time not annoyed at a book. Between making jokes to the love interest by calling her exotic asian babe (after all - she laughed and played along so it must have been funny 🙄) to the lead explaining how hard it is to be exceptional at cooking Chinese food while being a white guy and how crazy it is that he’s always underestimated and how much better he is than most people and how much he knows about - well everything … I guess I just missed the funny parts. I guess I’ll never know what happens - but I’m pretty sure the lead will save the day somehow. After all he’s the best at everything.
Wouldn’t recommend - unless someone needed examples of walking micro-aggressions.

[Ty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book on a flash Kindle sale mainly because I liked the title. As sometimes happens, I got lucky. The book is actually quite entertaining, funny and mildly suspenseful. The main character, an Anglo who speaks Mandarin and is an excellent chinese cook, runs into the prototypical chick who is trouble... a gorgeous, Chinese chick, of course, who happens to be in the diamond trade. Much of what follows is easy to imagine, but the author writes it down in a fresh, energetic way. If you are looking for a light, easy read, check it out.

[Tamar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, cute read about... you guessed it, Chinese cooking and diamond thieves. Subtly named, this book is not. This book seems to have been written to showcase the author's knowledge of Chinese culture and witty writing. It's a pleasant, easy, fairly predictable read, a notch above those "paperback" bestsellers. If you're looking for something to read on the beach, try this book.

Disclosure: I received this book through GoodReads' FirstRead Program.

[Crystal Doiron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was witty and really cute. The food descriptions made me SUPER hungry so if you plan to read it, have a plan in place to get some chinese take out.

The adventure was good, I genuinely liked Tucker’s character but Corrine never seemed accessible.

Overall, it was interesting enough to keep me reading and funny enough that I enjoyed it.

4 stars

[Robin Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A fun read. I love cooking and have a little first hand knowledge of martial arts, which probably helped me enjoy it more than some others would. The writing was pretty good, it was paced well, and the characters were likable. I would definitely try another novel by Dave Lowry.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good summer read, short but interesting. Lead character is a little snarky, feels about right for a 22 y/o kicked out of college. I liked the asides on Chinese cooking and a fighting style I've never heard of. Plus, l live in New Hampshire, so it gets a star just for mentioning places I know.

[Michael McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Works well on several levels

Good plot, very good characters, interesting information about Chinese cooking, Chinese restaurants, Chinese cussing, customs, and manners. Very well written repartee.

[Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best stories I've read over the past years. I'd like to read more stories about Tucker.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than I expected

[sunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

It made me happy and hungry.

[Bradley Valentine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ended up enjoying this book despite a bumpy beginning. That I ended up liking it at all probably says something bad about me because it's really not a very well done story. That so many other people gave it such high marks is surprising and a little comforting, haha.

Here's what I liked. These kinds of mysteries and thrillers tend to be pretty shallow these days, and this one is no different. I wouldn't be surprised if the author lifted its structure completely from another book because it would hardly make a difference. There's something prefab about it. It's predictable and boring and ultimately pointless in a way you find out at the end when a character admits another character was never under serious suspicion for a crime as much as she is bait. Then there's another chapter of the author laying things out to try and make it seem like it all makes sense, which...why bother?

The whole point of having a prefab plot is to give the reader what he/she really wants in the first place -- great characters. World building. Style and atmosphere. Why bother trying to justify the rickety inner structure when 9 times out of 10 you know the author is more just throwing ideas at a wall rather than springing a finely tuned trap on the reader.

Lowry has more interest in the cooking he describes than the plot. The characters were fun enough that I didn't mind going along with it. I had the sense that I was finding out how the culture of a Chinese restaurant kitchen might actually be.

On the other hand, the lead character is pretty annoying. In fact, I'm guessing that David Lowry is in well into middle age and perhaps has forgotten what it's like being 21 years old, which is how old we are to believe the lead character is. As another reviewer has mentioned, the kid never stops talking. He has somehow become an expert in Chinese culture, uh, just by washing dishes and learning to cook in the suburban food industry. Not just modern China either. The dude is laying some "ancient Chinese secrets" on some old school Chinese types and smugly watching their minds blow.

The lead character thinks he's funnier than he is with a never abating line of dad jokes that we are lead to believe charm everybody around him. In real life, I'd say this supposed 21 year old was raised by his grandparents and is most definitely NOT street smart or able navigate through the varied societies this guy does, winning friends and crushing enemies with nary a bead of sweat.

Like I said, I felt like I was learning about Chinese American culture (as far as it went), I like some of the odd aspect going on here, but just as a story. A cartoon. It's a disposable novel, and as such, I enjoyed it.

[Steve's Book Stuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chinese Cooking for Diamond Thieves was a fun read. The book started off a bit slow but quickly picked up the pace. It's light entertainment that's a blend of mystery, young romance, and Chinese cooking.

The author is a restaurant critic for St. Louis Magazine and also writes nonfiction about martial arts. So, of course our young hero Tucker is a skilled chef who practices martial arts. He drops out of college, then meets and becomes infatuated with the mysterious Corrine Chang. Soon after he winds up in St. Louis working as a chef in a Chinese restaurant and Corrine follows him to become a waitress in the same restaurant. Tucker gets pulled into some shadowy goings-on revolving around Corrine's past. His martial arts skills come in handy when a set of Chinese gangsters threateningly appear. Along the way there's one body discovered, and a couple of FBI agents get involved. I won't give away the rest, but you get the picture.

Yes, Tucker is sometimes annoyingly snarky, and the plot seems like it was picked up from a 1980s detective show, with short chapters that play like scenes in said show. But the writing is really good, especially for what is essentially a beach read. My one nit to pick with the writing is that Tucker is clearly benefiting from the age, experience and expertise of the author, so much so that he's not really believable as a 21 year old.

I picked this book up based on a review by another book blogger, and I'm glad I did. I give it 3 Stars ⭐⭐⭐ - I liked it. If you are making your summer reading plans now, consider adding this one up to the list.

[Awais Butt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I did find the 'Asian babe' reference to be simultaneously sexist and racist," she said. "I can't tell you how deeply sorry I am," I said. "I'm very poor at apologizing for the inherent racism of my breed. I can only blame it on our natural genetic superiority."

Denne boka hadde ingen rett til å være så bra. Den perfekte kombinasjonen av sarkasme, witticism, snappy humor og et intrigerende plot resulterte i en bok jeg devoura på rekordtid. Progresjonen i dynamikken mellom hovedpersonene var også utrolig gøy å følge - temmelig awkward, men samtidig completely relatable😌

[Kristal Audain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book on a day trip and finished it before we made it home. It definitely draws you in and gives hilarious glimpses into the Chinese culture and the world behind the scenes at a Chinese restaurant. Top that off with a juicy mystery and a love story!

[JustEvan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. So pleasantly surprised. I've read some of Dave Lowry's non-fiction and I think this is his only work of fiction, but I really enjoyed it.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book…one of the most entertaining I’ve read in years! Appealing characters, insights into Chinese cooking and culture, snappy and clever dialogue, and a love story with the sweetness of innocence. What’s not to love?

[Christine Kuffel]

Read a bit. Couldn't identify with characters.

[Rachel May · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Funny and clever, it’s a cross between a mystery/thriller and an odd love story.