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August 10, 2015
Dunlap’s engaging sixth Darcy Lott mystery (after 2012’s No Footprints) finds the San Francisco stuntwoman in fine form, at least physically. The shortage of jobs as the movie industry moves to cheaper, more welcoming cities doesn’t make Darcy happy, but that issue takes second place when Garson-roshi, her Zen teacher, is beaten by a hooded thug who breaks into their meditation room. Darcy tries to balance her search for the thug—which involves a certain amount of prying into Garson-roshi’s private life—and her excitement at being offered some important stunt work in an upcoming film. Both parts of the story ring true, as the author clearly knows a good deal about stunt work as well as Zen practice. Complications abound in the forms of a protective brother, a stuntwoman-wannabe, and a reporter who suspects Garson-roshi of being involved in human trafficking. Whether these well-drawn characters are being helpful or impeding progress isn’t always clear—and that is their charm. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary Agency.

September 1, 2015

In her sixth adventure after No Footprints, stunt double Darcy Lott is facing tough professional and personal issues, not the least of which is the attack on her Zen master, Leo Garson. Living in San Francisco is where her heart is, but her paycheck comes from the movies. How will she make a decision? Will she move? How can she protect Garson-roshi when he is so guarded, and why is he keeping secrets from his assistant?

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2015
Zen student and movie stunt double Darcy Lott is lamenting the fact that her movie career seems to by drying up when she is offered an opportunity to work with a hot new director filming in San Francisco. Meanwhile, she is trying to investigate an attack on her Zen teacher, Garson-roshi. She has no idea why someone would attack a Zen master, though it does appear that Garson-roshi had some secrets, including his mysterious once-a-month disappearances. This series continues to draw its appeal from the mix of its two unlikely framesZen and the movie businessand from its heroine, who is more tough and feisty than she is tranquil, despite her Zen training.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)