Out of Nowhere

August 1, 2016
Family takes a central role in Dunlap’s solid seventh mystery featuring San Francisco stuntwoman and Zen student Darcy Lott (after 2015’s Switchback). Mike, the older brother Darcy adored who was mysteriously MIA for decades until she tracked him down, calls for assistance when he’s the target of a couple of vehicular assaults. Darcy, who faces work challenges after her last Hollywood gig, seeks answers in Mike’s apartment, which is occupied by three temporary tenants. A gas leak, a damaged car, and a concealed weapon add complications as Darcy works to untangle the mysteries of Mike and his past. A determined but flawed protagonist, Darcy has relatable and complicated interactions with her Zen teacher, the members of her extensive family, and others. Dunlap smoothly integrates aspects of both Darcy’s stuntwoman training and Zen studies into the action. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary Agency.

August 10, 2015
Dunlap’s engaging sixth Darcy Lott mystery (after 2012’s No Footprints) finds the San Francisco stuntwoman in fine form, at least physically. The shortage of jobs as the movie industry moves to cheaper, more welcoming cities doesn’t make Darcy happy, but that issue takes second place when Garson-roshi, her Zen teacher, is beaten by a hooded thug who breaks into their meditation room. Darcy tries to balance her search for the thug—which involves a certain amount of prying into Garson-roshi’s private life—and her excitement at being offered some important stunt work in an upcoming film. Both parts of the story ring true, as the author clearly knows a good deal about stunt work as well as Zen practice. Complications abound in the forms of a protective brother, a stuntwoman-wannabe, and a reporter who suspects Garson-roshi of being involved in human trafficking. Whether these well-drawn characters are being helpful or impeding progress isn’t always clear—and that is their charm. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary Agency.

August 1, 2016
Stunt double, Zen student, and occasional sleuth Darcy Lott is plenty eccentric herself, but then there's her brother, Mike, with whom Darcy has only recently reestablished contact. Mike is back in San Francisco, but he seems to have been targeted by an unknown assailant, prompting Darcy to come to his aid. Her search for answers takes her to Mike's apartment in a decaying Haight-Ashbury building that houses a hacker hostel. What she finds there makes her question everything she thought she knew about her brother. Fans may miss the movie frame story that often supports this series, but Darcy remains an unusual and appealing character who uses both Zen discipline and daredevil instincts to solve crimes.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)