Avoidable Contact

June 2, 2014
The 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race provides the backdrop for Kaehler’s entertaining third Kate Reilly mystery (after 2013’s Braking Points). Kate’s beau, Stuart Telerday, should have been on hand, but just as the day is getting started, cops turn up announcing that he was badly injured in a hit-and-run. Kate soon receives a set of mysterious text messages suggesting that the supposed accident was, in fact, attempted murder. Complicating matters emotionally—and perhaps giving Kate a motive for hurting her boyfriend—is the kiss that Stuart admits he shared with another woman the night before. If that isn’t enough to handle, one of Kate’s teammates is killed on the track. Snappy dialogue, a smart and affable heroine (who calls to mind auto racer Danica Patrick), and pacing reminiscent of 24 combine to make this entry as exciting as a spin around the speedway. Agent, Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency.