THE MYSTERIES OF MURDER AND RELATIONSHIPS: ALISON GAYLIN'S ROBERT B. PARKER'S BUZZKILL

In two books, Alison Gaylin has completely taken over Robert B. Parker's Sunny Randall from the previous caretaker. She both maintains the voice of the smart, observant, and athletic Boston P.I. and makes her her own. She even handles Sunny's work-life balance better than the character.

A large retainer pulls a reluctant Sunny in to the missing person case of Dylan Welch, the son of a media baron who gives playboys a bad name. Many connect the disappearance to many of the women he mistreated., but Sunny focuses on Buzz Energy Drink, Dylan's latest entrepreneurial effort. The product is both addictive and possibly dangerous, moving up against legal lines and crossing ethical ones. The case grows more serious when a couple bodies appear and known mobsters have her in their sights.

It's that danger that also affects the relationship with her boyfriend, Ritchie. The two are working through a commuter relationship with Richie managing a club in Asbury Park, New Jersey, After the near death experience she had in the last book, Bad Influence, he has asked her not to take on dangerous cases. Gaylin weaves this though the investigation with bot clarity and deftness, with Sunny discussing it with her gay, bad-ass sidekick Spike, her retired cop father, and even Richie's relatives who have mob ties who also assist on the case. She also uses her alliance with Sky, Dylan's partner who may be in love with him, to connect both parts of the story.

Gaylin gives Sunny a clear and concise voice much like PArker did. Her emotions and relationship may be a mees, but she expresses them with clear thought. This also applies to the fights and chases. The reader can clearly follow th action.

She also lends her embrace of technology to the books. Many authors gripe how cell phones and computers, thinking it cuts down on story ideas and opportunities to create suspense. Alison realizes that's only for stories from thirty years ago. He uses texting and cell phones for plot points, tension, and humor. A car chase where Sunny uses GPS provides a wonderful example of all of this.

Alison Gaylin performs an entertaining tightrope walk, delivering everything we love about Sunny Randall, without simply being a Parker mimic, and keeping the character moving along in modern times. She may be just as good of a partner to her as Spike.