If you like Janet Evanovich, you're sure to enjoy THIEVES, the third release in Vicky Hill Exclusive series. Author Hannah Dennison's lively story centers around investigative journalist Vicky Hill, a heroine reminiscent of Evanovich's, Stephanie Plum. THIEVES, told with a distinctly British twist, blends wit, perpetual motion and hapless misadventures.

The tongue in cheek humor begins immediately when Vicky does her best to escape a bachelorette party for a 60ish friend named Barbara. On her way out the door, the sexagenarian coyly informs Vicky that she's been drinking spiked punch all evening, forcing the younger woman to take the back roads home. On the way, she is nearly run off the road by a speeding vehicle. Shortly after, she comes across a mangled bicycle in a small stream. Next to it, of course, is a dead woman.

Her investigative nose for news twitches with visions of an exclusive crime scene story. Vicky considers herself a serious journalist even though her normal beat is the obituaries for the local, small town newspaper.

First to arrive after the 911 call is Steve Burrows, a plump paramedic convinced he's having a relationship with our saucy heroine. For every put-down she issues, every attempt to assure Steve she has no interest in him whatsoever, the want-to-be suitor is quick to turn it around with a love-struck hopefulness. Next to show up is the investigative team which includes Detective Sergeant Probes, a hottie Vicky would like to ignite like a stick of dynamite and who would readily hand her the match.

The more questions she asks about the accident, the more she realizes things don't add up. Vicky quickly decides the victim's death is connected to a series of silver thefts plaguing the small community. Part of the town believes they are the work of a travelling band of gypsies. Others insist they are orchestrated by "The Fog", a famous thief who just happens to secretly be Vicky's father. When the police and her newspaper editor are reluctant to investigate the accident, Vicky is determined to uncover the truth.

She digs deeper until she uncovers a slew of suspects, including the gypsies who have set up temporary camp where the town's annual Dance-A-Thon is scheduled to take place. They are awaiting the imminent death of their elderly leader and refuse to move until he passes. To further complicate things, Vicky realizes Barbara is about to default on her upcoming wedding with an old flame from the gypsy clan. Her fears are compromised by her own attraction to one of the younger members whose actions are too mysterious for her to fall all the way.

There are so many sub-plots woven throughout this entertaining tale, making it impossible to give each the time and space it deserves. Ms. Dennison has masterfully layered the characters and their personal agendas so well, I didn't feel confused or lost with the overall story. In the final pages, all loose ends are tidied up quite nicely.

A quirky feature I really enjoyed was the sensational headlines that flashed through Vicky's thoughts each time she envisioned a newspaper scoop coming on. They weren't overdone. Just a light sprinkling for flavor.

Vicky's predicament at trying to juggle three interested men is hilarious as she wades through each piece of new evidence. THIEVES is not heavy on romantic interludes but it's not intended to be a romantic suspense. It's clearly a clever mystery and suitable for fans of Janet Evanovich or those who enjoy a light hearted who-dun-it.

Reviewed by: Deb