THE DISCIPLE OF LAS VEGAS

The debut of a lesbian forensic accountant with Bruce Lee skills and a much-stamped passport.

Toronto-based Ava Lee—just back from Hong Kong, Thailand, Guyana and the British Virgin Islands, where she retrieved more than $5 million stolen from a client—answers a call from her aging, Asia-based partner, Uncle, who has a new case for them to consider. Should they come to the aid of Tommy Ordonez, the wealthiest Filipino-Chinese businessman in Manila, which could net them a fee of several million? Barely pausing to down an instant coffee, Ava heads for Manila, where Tommy explains the problem, which concerns his brother Philip and a Canadian real estate transaction that’s siphoned $50 million from the company’s coffers. Where did it all go? Philip’s online gambling addiction sends Ava to Vegas to interview world-class poker champions and, with the help of two of Uncle’s tattooed sidekicks, they twist some arms and remove some thumbs. There’ll be more instant coffee, a flight to England, more interviews and more threats of torture and blackmail before Ava and Uncle finally earn their fee.

Swashbuckling Ava who, like Modesty Blaise, seems best suited to comic-book action, is slated for a second appearance. Unless superheroines on caffeine are your dish, you can safely give Ava a miss.