Book Review: TO CATCH A THIEF anthology

Authors: Carol Cox, Lisa Harris, DiAnn Mills, and Kathleen Y'Barbo
Publisher: Barbour & Co. (December 2003, 360 pages, paperback)
ISBN: 1586609726
Genre: Inspirational historical romance

Four female undercover Pinkertons pursue gender equality and criminal justice in a small Colorado mining town victimized by train robbers.

TANGLED THREADS by Carol Cox

When the train is robbed, Ruth's assignment to apprehend the thieves places second to her concern for her missing partner. Sydney fell from the train, and no one Ruth pleads with for help seems to care, including their chauvinistic contact. Helpless to aid her friend, Ruth establishes her cover as a seamstress and rams into her first possible lead--handsome mine owner Mark Chandler. When Sydney's rescue creates more questions than answers, Ruth is confronted with several new mysteries to solve, including that of Mark's true intentions.

RESCUING SYDNEY by Lisa Harris

John Langston can hardly believe his eyes when in the midst of a train robbery he recognizes an old friend's sister now grown up. Before he can catch up to Sydney, she falls from the train, and he gallantly leaps after her. Intent on searching for evidence, Sydney doesn't want a male companion--especially one who once sparked a girlhood crush and then abandoned her family's friendship when her brother died. Learning the truth melts her anger against John, but her bitterness against God creates a larger obstacle between them. Because John is a minister... Then in the pursuit of clues, Sydney finds them both arrested for train robbery, and what once seemed so simple--evading John and his God--becomes increasingly impossible.

SKIRTED CLUES by DiAnn Mills

Determined to catch the mastermind behind the train robberies, Moment braves her fear of anything animal and rides into the wilds to investigate rancher Brady Miller. Her horse throws her, a cougar traps her, then her prime suspect rescues and insults her. Brady enjoys his reputation as an ornery hermit, but he can't leave a helpless woman stranded. Escorting Moment on the long trip back to town fires the starting gun on a battle-of-wills that develops into grudging mutual respect and eventually romance. But fighting crime is dangerous business, and Moment would rather face another cougar than loving and losing--again.

VICTORIOUS by Kathleen Y'Barbo

To Gus, fellow Pinkerton agent Victoria's nagging insistence he reopen the train robbery case sounds sillier than her feathered hats look. He refuses to aid what he considers a shameless ruse to nab the local dandy banker for a husband. When the banker demonstrates prowess as an investigator targeting her, Victoria thinks if Gus won't help her maybe her would-be beau will. About the time Gus decides he may actually miss her pesky presence, criminals get the drop on him, and he finds his life in the hands of the prettiest Pinkerton in Colorado. Will he find she holds his heart, as well?

To Catch a Thief is an enjoyable, easy read; I finished each of the novellas in a single sitting. I thought Ms. Mills's talent for spunky heroines and Ms. Y'Barbo's for sexual tension found amply satisfactory expression in "Skirted Clues" and "Victorious." Ms. Harris, an experienced author of short stories and nonfiction, made a nearly flawless debut into longer fiction with "Rescuing Sydney." Her heroine's inner journey was traversed with refreshing plausibility, step-by-step; the narrative and dialogue builds on each other, never repetitious.

A trip-up in characterization between the prologue and "Tangled Threads" left me feeling a little unsettled with Ruth's character. The proverbial bull in a china shop, she was unconvincing as an undercover agent. Also, I thought both the romance and resolution were without sufficient foundation; they seemed to fall on her with little effort. That said, Ms. Cox is an experienced author who knows how to structure scenes and keep the pace flowing.

To Catch a Thief is a pleasant collection of romances flavored with a pinch of mystery. I think it'll satisfy fans of most of the authors, and create a bevy of new ones for debut author Lisa Harris.