Shane and the Hitwoman by Bob Mayer

I love Agnes and the Hitman (definitely read, don't listen) so I thought I'd try this series. Agnes is not in this book and a few of the couples at the end of the last book are no longer couples in this book so a lot of that book is undone. If you are looking for a continuation of that book this book is ... fine. If you aren't expecting it to be a sequel, it's going to ge more enjoyable. 

Agnes is on trip even though she's set up the wedding of leaders from another country. A very small country. And, of course, there are going to be dramatics that play into Shane's strengths. And those of the scrappy new comer to The Organization, Phoebe.

Three stars

The Organization #1

Followed by Phoebe and the Traitor

This book came out November 16, 2021

Opinions are my own

Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie

Probably Crusie's best story. Or at least my favorite.

Agnes Crandall's life seems like it should be perfect, she's got the house of her dream, a great-looking fiancé, her best friend's daughter is getting married with Agnes providing the food, and her Cranky Agnes food column has spawned her one bestselling cookbook with another in the works. But lately, her writing is about the only thing that seems to be going well. Her fiancé is being evasive and the wedding on which her keeping her house hinges, is threatening to implode. But the worst happens in the opening scene of the book when an armed intruder comes into the house wanting to kidnap her dog. Agnes has a history of violence and it comes to good use when she smacks the intruder with a frying pan and he flies through a previously hidden door into the unknown basement, breaking his neck.

Opening up this basement opens a door to the past, when Joey, her cooking mentor, and Frankie Fortunato along with another man robbed a train of five million dollars. But then Frankie disappeared with the money and the basement was covered up. 

Joey immediately calls in his nephew Shane to protect "Little Agnes." Shane is on another job but he immediately comes back to his hated hometown to help his uncle. The situation is not one that he's excited about but he is excited about Agnes. He likes her disposition as well as her figure. When Agnes' fiancé turns out to be a total jerk, Shane is there to help her get over her disappointment.

I just got this as an audiobook and was really disappointed. The points when we get to hear Agnes's thoughts are faded and a completely different volume than the rest of the story. And that happens a lot in this book. 

Five stars as hard copy; three and a half as audio

This book came out August 21, 2007

Audible book I own

Opinions are my own