Stuff to Spy For

September 7, 2009
Skip Moore and James Lessor pursue a new career as spies in Bruns's wacky third novel to feature the bumbling South Florida sleuths (after 2008's Stuff Dreams Are Made Of
). When Sarah Crumbly, an old high school friend, approaches Skip about updating the security for Synco Systems, a software company that designs protection systems for computer networks, Skip accepts because he's promised a big bonus if he also pretends to be Sarah's boyfriend until the installation is complete. Sarah, a high-rent call girl, happens to be the mistress of Synco's married CEO, Sandy Conroy, with whom she has plans to leave the country. Complications ensue after Synco's v-p, Ralph Walter, turns up dead in his office, an apparent suicide. Skip, James and Skip's girlfriend, Emily, become bargain-basement James Bonds as they acquire an assortment of nifty spy stuff to use in their investigation. Be prepared for some laugh-out-loud moments.

October 15, 2009
Skip and James are a couple of slackers sharing a crappy apartment and waiting for opportunity to come knocking at their door. Skip sells security systems in Carol City, Florida, a town with no industry to speak of and a lot of senior citizens with little to protect. Then Synco Systems calls, needing help with upgrading the physical security for a hush-hush client. Skips contact with Synco is Sarah Crumbly, a hot little number Skip and James knew in high school. There will be a nice bonus for Skip if he also pretends to be Sarahs boyfriend. Shes having an affair with the CEO and wants to throw his wife off the scent. Then the CEO's wife, wise to the boyfriend charade, hires Skip to get the goods on her husband. Awkward, but even moreso when the CEO is found dead. The boys are in way over their heads, even before links to the Defense Department surface. Entertaining crime fare for readers who enjoy amateur sleuths bumbling their way toward a satisfying conclusion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)