The Devil Riding

Rating:
Summary: Dirt Behind the Glitter
Review: Wesley's new book is set in the ersatz glitter of Atlantic City but deprivation and cruelty aren't far away. While people are dropping quarters into slot machines and high rollers are luxuriating in lavish suites, runaway kids are trying to make a home for themselves in the shadow of all that greed.

Tamara Hayle's looking for a rich runaway here, and her empathy for kids is in full play. She's not your typical crusty PI, but she is hard-working and despite the dangers, you see her job as just that: work that puts bread on the table.

She's appealing; the villain's well worth hissing at; the romantic interest is Billy Dee Williams-hot--but the author's best creations are the kids, whether rich or poor, who've been treated so badly. All that and a fast-moving story make for a fine read, though the writing needed a firmer editorial hand.