Not the usual Evanovich formula (which was good) Gab is a recovery agent looking for a lost ring along with her ex husband. Murderous drug lords, shady cocoa leave farmers, a ghost, and a senile helicopter pilot figure in on this adventure. Slow going with too much information on legends, locations, & lots of murder and some humor. Probably won't continue with the series. ( )

Hmmm needs more character development which I could see happening over a series. Felt like all action vs letting us get to know them first. My jury is still out but quick ok read ( )

3.5 stars (rating shown may vary depending on site).

I've read Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Gabriela Rose was in one of those books. It's odd though because in the Stephanie Plum book to my recollection, Gabriela was depicted as a competent badass (at least compared to Stephanie's somewhat incompetent FTA apprehensions). But in this book, Gabriela is more like Stephanie--not necessarily incompetent--she does have skills--but a bit of a fly by the seat of your pants planner.

Her initial recovery job goes south when a panther takes the hand that is holding the item she was supposed to recover. Then, she gets pulled into a family treasure hunt to try to save the town where she grew up and where her parents and grandmother still live. The town's been devastated by a hurricane and it's either find 15 million dollars or sell out to a developer (and her grandmother refuses to leave the town). Her grandmother "talks" to ghost named Annie who tells her where to look for a family treasure. Fortuitously, Gabriela has 2 free weeks in her schedule. But Annie's treasure is under Gabriela's ex's house (she gave him the house in their divorce).

Rafer (the ex) discovers Gabriela trying to find the "treasure". Together they find a diary that has clues to finding The Seal of Solomon (a ring). They set off to South America to try to find the relic and save their hometown. Along the way, the encounter El Dragon, who also wants the ring.

There were times that Rafer reminded me of the Lula character in the Stephanie Plum series.

I figured that by the end, they would find the money to save the town, but I didn't guess correctly on how that happened. ( )

Janet Evanovich kicks off her new series with a thriller that hooks you from the very beginning. Meet Gabriela Rose, an insurance fraud investigator who sometimes takes on jobs that are outside that field. This is the case in The Recovery Agent.

The reader will travel with her to South America and experience some harrowing experiences as she searches for a ring that, according to legend, is part of a fabled treasure. The story becomes quite intense at times, but the author breaks it up with some light moments that relieve the tension. Take note: Prepare yourself if you are terrified of snakes as they play a large role in this tale.

I love the way that the characters come to life on the page. I can picture them interacting with each other as the story unfolds. The settings are so well described that you feel as if you are right there.

Does the ring and treasure really exist, or is Gabriela Rose on a wild goose chase? You will have to read The Recovery Agent in order to find out.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher with no promise of a positive review. As a long time fan of the author, I anticipated liking it and can honestly say that it met my expectations. I read the entire book in one day. Any opinion shared here is my own. ( )

If you’ve read Stephanie Plum, you have a good idea how Janet Evanovich writes. It’s absurd, nonsensical, and amusing. If you want a realistic plot, you won’t find it. If you’re willing to suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride, you’re in for a good time.

The Recovery Agent is more of the same, in the best possible way. It is written in third person, so while mostly focused on Gabriella Rose, it allows brief perspective shifts to fill in the blanks of other people’s actions. Gabriella describes herself in her Stephanie Plum appearance as “skilled, but unlucky”, and the result is a steadier stream of progress that allows her the resources to span the globe for a light fun adventure. ( )