Rosarito Beach by M. A. Lawson, a Mysterious Review.

Review: M. A. Lawson introduces Kay Hamilton in Rosarito Beach, the first thriller in a series centered on the exploits of this DEA agent.

Sexy, smart, and ambitious, Kay has been transferred to San Diego after the notoriety surrounding her last case in Miami, forcing a transfer. She's now working on an international bust involving Tito Olivera, the US-based younger brother of Caesar Olivera, Mexico's largest drug czar. Willing to do anything, go to any lengths, and risk it all, Kay finally has Tito within her reach. Captured, he is sent to prison and held without bail. Everything has fallen into place perfectly … until Kay's past comes back to haunt her. Her daughter, given up fifteen years ago, shows up at her door needing a place to stay. Tito's brother Caesar finds out about it and has her kidnapped. Now the rules have changed. Kay will do anything, go to any lengths, and risk it all to save her daughter.

Rosarito Beach has a solid thriller storyline and a strong sense of good and evil. The problem here is Kay Hamilton herself, who is not the most likeable of series characters. She has an in-your-face style and always seems to be threatening to fire or suspend someone for the smallest breach of her rules, all the while disregarding both her own supervisors and often the rule of law. Still, the fast-paced and suspenseful plot tends to compensate for her character flaws resulting in an entertaining, if also somewhat uneven, debut.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Rosarito Beach.

Acknowledgment: Penguin Group provided a copy of Rosarito Beach for this review.

Rosarito Beach

A Kay Hamilton Mystery by M. A. Lawson