Customer Reviews

A Spy in the Hand: A Mr. and Mrs. Spy Mystery

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have always been drawn to spy versus spy as I channel surf, so it was a delight to know that I was going to get to read a book on this premise. I was excited and I was not disappointed.

The story starts out with our main characters, Gary and Clarissa, who play the parts of Mr. and Mrs. Spy, on a discontinued TV series. We find ourselves at a yearly convention with hundreds of die-hard fans that are hoping the series will be reinstated, and we find that Mrs. Spy would rather be anywhere else except at this convention and with her former co-star, Gary. Ah, but perhaps her feelings are going to change, as indeed her life is.

We meet Harry,who has Gary and Clarissa under contract and also is living a double life.
Harry is a mysterious man, with many hidden secrets, such as being a top spy. Thus, the storyline begins as the reader must help unravel exactly what these secrets are. Harry, murdered at the beginning of this work,causes Mr. and Mrs. Spy to be thrust into a real life adventure as the "government" enlists their help in finding a chip that has the formula on it for a deadly gas. A chip that Harry has carefully hidden, and unfortunately all involved feel Clarissa unknowingly has the clue to where it is.

As you can well imagine, many are after this priceless chip and will stop at nothing to find it. Gary and Clarissa are uncertain who they can trust, even wondering about the agents that are suppose to be protecting them. The confusion intensifies as they find out there is an informer within their own agency and they have no idea who it is. As they are forced to cling to each other, emotions that had laid dormant begin to surface and we are given a gentle whisk of love blooming. However, the mystery and adventure is never far behind, as dead bodies are plentiful, suspense is never-ending and questions upon questions keep piling up with no answers. Just where did Harry hide that chip?

"A Spy In The Hand," is a well thought out piece of work. Great character development, mystery interweaving romance, and chock full of questions that just when you think you have the answer, you find out you didn't. I truly enjoyed this read and give it my highest recommendation.

Shirley Johnson
Senior Reviewer
MidWest Book Review

A Spy In The Hand by Toni Lo Tempio is a fast paced thriller. It is set in the dual worlds of espionage and the fantasy fabric of Hollywood. This causes the players in the plot difficulty in sorting fact from fiction.

Harry Slominski is a well-known and highly respected Hollywood producer. His most famous product is the Mr and Mrs Spy television series. Run over many years, it made its stars, Clarissa McMillan and Gary Preston household names across America.

Each year after the show had ceased production, a reunion was held. Hundreds of eager Mr and Mrs Spy fans would attend to get close to Clarissa and Gary. Their fanaticism never waned and they all longed for the series to be reborn again.

It was at one such reunion that an event occurred which would change the course of Clarissa McMillan and Gary Preston's lives. Harry Slominski was found dead, shot in the head, in his suite. This mysterious slaying of such a well-known Hollywood producer set off a chain of events that would spiral to a dramatic conclusion.

Clarissa and Gary find themselves drawn into a Special Intelligence Agency (SIA) charade. To their absolute surprise, they are told that Harry was a super spy. He was hot on the trail of the formula for a deadly toxic nerve gas when he was killed.

The SIA gets Clarissa and Gary to play the role of real spies, in an effort to get those responsible for Harry's death to come out in the open. This entwines the actors into a deadly script where those taking part get killed. There is a mole in the SIA and an assassin known as Companion who will stop at nothing to eliminate those people seen as a threat.

These are but two of the factors that make Clarissa and Gary depend on each other for survival. Surrounded by deception and betrayal, they can only truly trust themselves. It is a trust that builds and strengthens the bond between them, to ensure their mutual survival.

Toni Lo Tempio has crafted a gripping tale. Her writing style of short chapters highlights the intrigue and action. It makes the reader want to push on and not take a break from the flow of the story.

I found this thriller to be a ripping read. Lovers of this genre I am sure will feel the same way. Toni Lo Tempio is an author whose work is indeed worthy to explore.

I read this book and absolutely loved it. Now all I have to say is, where's the movie?????? the comic repartee between the main characters is certainly reminiscent of another great series, Moonlighting.

I was so delighted with this book, I'm making my first ever review at Amazon! I wasn't expecting much as I'm a fussy reader--have a few favorite authors and find it hard to enjoy other works--but Spy in the Hand was a complete, and wonderful surprise!!!

The witty banter, the twists and turns, the funny characters--this is like Moonlighting meets Galaxy Quest!! Just a joy to read. In fact, I totally lost an entire day as I just couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read more from Ms. Lotempio! I'm gonna have to clear a new spot on my 'keeper' shelf for the rest of these books!

As an avid reader of mysteries, I found this book extremely enjoyable. Ms. LoTempio weaves a complex plot. I'm looking forward to the further adventures of Gary Preston and Clarissa McMillan, Mr. and Mrs.Spy, and also to the movie!!!!!!

I definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes mysteries.