RUBBED OUT

Business may be slow at Noah’s Ark, Robin Light’s exotic pet store, but her personal life couldn’t be more hectic. Her part-time assistant, Manuel, lives with her. Manuel’s girlfriend Bethany—who’s actually lived with Manuel’s mother since her parents kicked her out—spends a lot of time at Robin’s too. Robin’s best friend Calli wants her to help find her dognapped golden retriever. Her ex-boyfriend George Samson wants back into her life, although he’s currently engaged to a blond named Natalie who’s expecting his child. And private detective Paul Santini, whom Robin slept with because George was sleeping with Natalie, wants to hire her to find Janet Wilcox, who walked out on her attorney husband Walter because he was sleeping with a 19-year-old stripper named Alima. Robin takes up Santini’s offer, which turns out to be a bad idea because Janet’s made off with a couple hundred thou that Walter had in safekeeping for some Russian Mafia clients of his who register their objection by roasting him alive with a space heater. And she lets Santini talk her into continuing the search for Janet even after her client checks out—an even worse idea, since it prompts the Russians to put pressure on her by striking out at her nearest and dearest.

Unfortunately, the suspense never keeps pace with the florid plot complications, leaving Block’s eighth (Blowing Smoke, 2001, etc.) a drawn-out tale with as many loose ends as hangers-on.