I did really like this book, but in the beginning it did not appear that it would live up to the first in the series and maybe it doesn't quite live up to it. It did end up coming close, though. It seemed predictable at the start as to where it was going, but there were some unexpected twists and surprises before it was over and at the end it is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
To his family's releif, the stay at home sci-fi writer has gone to work for the city paper. But while researching an article, he stumbles upon what may be a homicide. A male Stephanie Plum.
When Zack Walker uprooted his wife and kids to the suburbs, it may have been a bad move for the family, but it was a huge hit for readers. Fans loved Linwood Barclay's zany suburbia, where handymen moonlight as mercenaries and the neighborhood dominatrix takes day calls. Now, Zack is back and on the job as a features writer for the city paper. While researching his first assignment Zack stumbles upon a homicide that may be linked to a gang that's been terrorizing the city's high-end shopping district. Suddenly, Zack finds himself at the center of a violent crime wave and destined for a confrontation with Barbie Bullock--a ruthless criminal with a disturbing obsession. And all is not quiet on the home front either, as Zack discovers his daughter's every step is being traced by a mysterious young man who may harbor more ominous motivations than winning a Saturday night date. As worlds begin to collide and boundaries between family and foes blur, Zack must be ever vigilant to outwit the evil at large, whether in the suburbs, the city, or in his own imagination. Heaven help the bad guys when this resourceful father comes to make good on a deal gone bad.