Barbara Block has a new Robin Light mystery out. The title of the book is Endangered Species. It follows such books as Vanishing Act and Chutes And Adders. Endangered Species was published by Kensington Books and copyrighted in 1999.

Robin Light is the owner of the Noah's Ark pet store. Occasionally she will get into an investigation. Through a few earlier incidents, people believe Robin to be a great detective. She also has a few people around her that are less than upstanding citizens. One such person is Manuel, a neighborhood tough who Robin reluctantly helps from time to time.

Manuel has a problem. His cousin Eli had brought a suitcase into the country. It was supposed to contain illegal Cuban cigars. The suitcase was stolen by Eli's roommate and now both the suitcase and the roomie were missing. The man who owns the case is threatening Eli if he doesn't get the cigars back. Manuel wants Robin to help find the suitcase and intervene with Eli's protagonist.

But all is not what it seems. The man who threatened Eli seems to be a nice man, but with a mean streak. What is really so important about a shipment of cigars? Is the contraband really cigars or something else? And who is this mystery man? His name may or may not be Chapman. He also may or may not be a cop. Robin enlists the help of her boyfriend George to find out. George used to be a cop.

The story is played out with Syracuse, New York as the backdrop. It's refreshing to have a location other than New York City, Boston or L.A. as the location of a detective series.

Endangered Species is a good mystery novel. Robin Light is as tough as the boys are and fiercely protective of animal of all kinds. Her way of solving cases is flying by the seat of your pants.

Copyright © 2000 Bruce E. Von Stiers