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Metro Girl, Janet Evanovich
HarperCollins
Reviewed by Alex Van Paassen (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

Janet Evanovich has written 10 books. The first was One For The Money. The second, Two For The Dough. And so on up to Ten Big Ones. You get the picture. Her latest, Metro Girl, is equally taxing of the reader's imagination.

Metro Girl is Alexandra Barnaby, but because Alex wasn't macho enough, everyone calls her Barney. Her dad owns a garage, and she knows how to fix a carburetor. She also drove in the local league of the North American Stock Car, or Nascar, races. She's blonde, scared of heights, likes pink and has legs that go from here down.

That's about all we get to know of Barney, after her brother calls her from Miami in the middle of the night, disappears with a girl from a cigar factory; and Barney saves him, her and the free world. Oh, plus $17 million in gold bullion. Phew, what a week that was.

Of course, she gets a little help from Nascar Guy, Sam Hooker, a famous driver. It's his boat Barney's brother happens to have stolen. He drives Barney round Florida, and organises the cavalry for the big finish. But along the way he gets "tranked" – hit with a tranquiliser dart, because nobody really gets hurt – and captured, so mainly it's his credit card that Barney needs. At least Judey, the gay guy with Brian the schnauzer, organises the knock-out dope for the baddies.

With as much weight as a meringue, Metro Girl is a perfect read for anyone who forgot girls can do anything and look cute.