Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 4/16/2019 + 2617 more book reviews

This was a fun book. Totally out there on the believability scale, but it was a riot to read. Emerson is a super-eccentric bazillionaire, who is charming, brilliant, and loves solving mysteries. The arrival of his Buddhist monk friend, Wayan Bagus, with the news that his tiny Pacific island has disappeared, was just what he needed to spice up his life. It will also get him out of helping Riley Moon bring order to his financial paperwork. Riley became his personal assistant after he got her fired in the first book, Curious Minds. Riley is practical and resourceful. She has multiple degrees from Harvard, but thanks to her small-town Texas sheriff father, she can also shoot, drive, and rope, abilities that come in handy when dealing with Emerson.

Starting with NOAA, Emerson, Riley, Wayan, and Emerson's cousin Vernon, investigate why an island that was on all the maps suddenly isn't there any longer. A bit of runaround from the officials there sent them to the National Park Service, who had jurisdiction over that area of the American Samoas. When Vernon made an unexpected connection between a multitude of missing hikers, volcanic activity, and several national parks, there's no choice but to investigate. Threats from a Park Service secret society only served to increase the group's determination to solve the mystery.

The action was nonstop as our team lurched from DC to Yellowstone to Hawaii. Emerson's brilliance was exhibited in some pretty off-the-wall plans that somehow always worked out in their favor. I couldn't help but laugh at their camping exploits in Yellowstone, especially Emerson's negotiations with a bear. I was utterly caught up in the tension as they bluffed and finagled their way into the hidden laboratory deep in the woods of Yellowstone. They barely escaped with their lives after a run-in with an ax-wielding thug with the nickname "Tin Man" and had to high-tail it to Hawaii to stop a plan for Armageddon.

They arrived in Hawaii one step ahead of the bad guys. I was on the edge of my seat as Emerson's make-it-up-as-he-went-along methods were put to the test. Riley's capture by the bad guys made her hostage to the return of that which Emerson had stolen. Emerson and the others launched a rescue attempt utilizing lava tubes while avoiding wild pigs and the patrols of bad guys, while Riley put her mind toward her own rescue. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Emerson faced off against a man who was ready to destroy the planet. Emerson was impressive and Riley was right there to back him up.

I loved each member of our intrepid team. Wayan was an intriguing mix of Buddhist philosophy and wicked sense of humor, and the nuggets of peace and wisdom were an interesting contrast to his martial arts abilities. Vernon is Emerson's redneck cousin who lives in an RV on the grounds of Emerson's mansion and writes a conspiracy blog. Vernon believes that he is God's gift to women and his conversation is innuendo-filled. He's always ready to join in on Emerson's adventures. I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship between Vernon and Wayan and the contrasts between them. I loved the pairing of Emerson and Riley. Emerson's version of flirting is both awkward and adorable, and Riley is certainly receptive. There is also the contrast between her practicality and his "anything goes, anything is possible" philosophy. Seeing her try to keep Emerson grounded is pretty funny.

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