Smoke Screen

Charisma Inc. #3

by Ruth Glick, Eileen Buckholtz

Smoke Screen (Charisma Inc. No. 3) Created by Ruth Glick and Eileen Buckholtz, Make a date with Danger .....

Genres: Young Adult

153 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1988

About the author

Ruth Glick is an American writer of cookbooks, romance and young adult novels. She has written novels under the pseudonym Rebecca York; until 1997 these were written in collaboration with Eileen Buckholtz.

Reviews

[Reading with Cats · Rating 2 out of 5]

At least this "hero" *only* held empty-headed Amber at knife point. That's an improvement I guess.

[Dorothea B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dipped in quickly for a fun blast to the past. At least one bit of misinformation (antojitos wasn't properly explained), but I love the deduction around figuring out the Mexican food box is a bomb. It's silly, but a nice enjoyable bit of fluff. Very 80s.

[Jennifer Abella · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5. Def better in my memories but also pretty typical of the period. I can see why we liked this a lot growing up. The half point is for the fun DC locales.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amber Carson was a debutante two years ago before joining up with Charisma, Inc. Now she is a, and I quote, an "undercover agent for one of the top detective agencies in the country". She is eighteen.

Hokey and cheesy, this is just one of ten 'Charisma, Inc.' books written in the late 1980's by various authors. One of which is Ruth Glick aka Rebecca York. This was a young-adult book with the heroine using phrases like "Thanks, heaps!", "totally unfair" and refers to people as 'sugar'. She has already met the First Lady and has friends in high places.

Partnered with another friend, Samantha St. James, their mission is to work among the politicians of Washington, DC and find out whom is intent on hurting the wife of a deceased senator. At the same time, Amber develops a "crush" on a mysterious delivery boy, Michael Hunter. Wow.

By far, this is is one of the silliest books I have ever read. It made me think of the old Nancy Drew mysteries. I had a hard time keeping a straight face while reading about Amber's adventures. We are talking about two-way radios and smoke pens here. If I had to guess, this story would appeal to young teens or anyone who wants a good laugh.