conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Do you know a description for a book titled Smoke In Mirrors about Meredith, Leonora, Thomas with the genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery? Start with the sentence 'Sparks fly between a sexually repressed college librarian and a handyman venture capitalist while they attempt to hunt down a killer who possesses the ability to make murder look like suicide in this tepid romantic thriller from veteran author the author (aka Amanda Quick, Stephanie James, Jayne Castle)'.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Sparks fly between a sexually repressed college librarian and a handyman venture capitalist while they attempt to hunt down a killer who possesses the ability to make murder look like suicide in this tepid romantic thriller from veteran author the author (aka Amanda Quick, Stephanie James, Jayne Castle). The news of Meredith Spooner's death comes as no surprise to her half-sister, Leonora Hutton; after all, Meredith was a con artist who was adept at making enemies. But when Thomas Walker, a victim of Meredith's most recent scam, confronts Leonora, demanding that she help him find the $1.5 million that Meredith filched from the Bethany Walker memorial fund and intimating that Meredith may have been murdered, Leonora drops her reference desk position in California to do some amateur sleuthing in Wing Cove, Wash. With the help of Thomas's brainy brother, Deke, she lands a position in Mirror House, an eerie, mirror-lined mansion that houses Eubanks College's alumni office as well as a large collection of rare books. While investigating the connection between Meredith's death and two other suspicious deaths, Leonora romances Thomas with the help of her matchmaking grandmother and a disgruntled advice columnist and pairs Deke with his sexy yoga instructor. A few half-hearted attempts on Thomas's life, orchestrated by a fraudulent stress therapist, add some zing to this one-dimensional read, but events spiral too quickly toward an unexpected and unbelievable conclusion. Once a college librarian herself, the author (Dawn in Eclipse Bay; Slightly Shady) ably depicts the competitive atmosphere of the academic arena, but this awkward pairing of dark melodrama and frothy romance fails to impress. National author tour.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Do you know the first four paragraphs for this book?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Smoke In Mirrors
  Deke looked down at his screen. "Mercer Island. It's in the middle of Lake Washington, between Seattle and Bellevue."
  Leonora put one arm on the back of the seat. "I vote we talk to Andrew Grayson. As soon as possible. Probably better to do it in person. We can be in Seattle in less than two hours."
  Thomas flicked a quick glance at his watch. "It's a waste of time and energy to have all four of us move in lockstep like this. We need to get more efficient. I suggest that Leonora and I drive into the city to see Grayson. Deke, now that we've got some new leads, I think the best thing you can do is concentrate on digging up whatever else you can find online that concerns Grayson and Eubanks."
  She made no move to take off her coat. Instead, she glanced at her watch. "It's nearly noon. I'd better be on my way. Busy class schedule at the studio this afternoon. I want to get a bite to eat first."
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Do you know three more paragraphs? Start with the sentence 'The elegant, compact household tool kit included an array of screwdrivers, including a Phillips head, a gleaming crescent wrench, a small hammer and a set of pliers'.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: The elegant, compact household tool kit included an array of screwdrivers, including a Phillips head, a gleaming crescent wrench, a small hammer and a set of pliers. The tools were attractively boxed in a black plastic storage case.
  A figure darkened the far end of the aisle. Thomas lowered the hammer and suppressed a groan when he saw Kyle coming toward him.
  Kyle went back to looking bewildered. "I don't get it. Why the hell is she still seeing you if she knows that you and Meredith had a fling?"
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Do you know the last five paragraphs?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Ed nodded soberly. "So she started the second round of rumors, hoping to deflect any serious murder investigation."
  Eventually, Ed pushed himself up from the chair. "Appreciate the conversation, folks. I'll be on my way. Got a lot of paperwork waiting for me."
  Ed studied the tile work in the hall with an approving eye while he zipped up his jacket. "First time I've seen this place since you bought it, Walker. You did a real fine job with the remodeling."
  Ed went out onto the porch. Thomas closed the door and went back into the front room. Leonora looked at him. He spread his hands and smiled.
  The thing about Thomas Walker, she thought, was that you never had to worry about illusions or false reflections in a mirror. Thomas was for real.