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Mitch Greiff is a tax accountant to celebrities and partner in a prestigious law firm. His mysterious disappearance should make him the most likely suspect when 103 million dollars of client money goes missing. However, Mitch is also the person least likely to disrupt his daily routine, never mind electronically stealing millions of dollars and going on the lam. He hates change or disruption and even freaks out if a new program is installed on his computer. The resulting conundrum puzzles everyone, including Mitch's estranged wife, Patricia, and Computer Crimes detectives Sprague and Ballestrino. The only one who isn't confused is Mitch's assistant, Erica King, a genius when it comes to numbers but a dimwit in social skills.
NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, by Valerie Block, explores a segment of society that most of us can relate to on some level. Block has assembled a fascinating cast of characters for this, her second book. She has an aptitude for detail, noticing the foibles and quirks that make each person unique. Block explores relationships and motivations as if she was trained for CSI. Unfortunately, you can't find a likeable character in the whole bunch. Talk about dysfunctional. Nonetheless, we can identify with them and knowingly shake our heads when they do the expected.
Erica King is a 30-something female who has never outgrown her teen angst. Her mother Geri was a school nurse and embarrassed the young Erica with her flighty ways and perpetual good humor. So little Erica became a curmudgeon at age 12 and never got over it.
Patricia Greiff, a former model, was so fed up with Mitch that she didn't even call Missing Persons when he failed to show up for two weeks. She was glad to have him gone. Of course, losing the financial security that came with being Mitch's wife gave her even more reasons to be perpetually petulant.
Ballestrino and Sprague are stereotypical NYPD detectives. Ballestrino is a skirt chaser who is so commitment-phobic that he still lives with his mother. Sprague is on his third marriage and dealing with several midlife crises, including the realization that he has to give up eating donuts at some point.
Once assembled, this cast plays out the drama surrounding a deliciously devious scheme that anyone who can do the math will see as brilliant. As expected, the anticipated satisfaction from being incredibly wealthy ends only in disappointment and frustration. This is in keeping with the theme Block uses to demonstrate the inevitable outcomes that result from superficiality.
NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS is well written, well plotted, and an all-around enjoyable peek into the lives of the rich and infamous.
--- Reviewed by Maggie Harding, a substance abuse counselor in Phoenix, AZ. who wanted to be Brenda Starr before life intervened. Her reviews can be heard every Wednesday on BookCrazy.net. To contact Maggie, e-mail Magster2@cox.net.
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