Where do ex-CIA agents go after they retire? What do they do? Are they through with the excitement? Are they over crime fighting? Well if Barbara Gold is any indication the answers are: go live near their family; normal "old people" activities only with their eyes wide open looking for crimes; they say they are through with all that excitement; and finally, their bodies may say they are over crime fighting, but their minds never do. Let's look at Barbara. In the 70 age range and in good health, she has recently come to the realization that all those years of hiding by squatting behind some rock in the desert have caught up with her knees. She notices she can't run as fast as she used to or move as easily as when she was younger while chasing after a criminal who has broken in her house. She also has to use her glasses to see if she can identify someone or even read fine print. But her mind! Her mind knows all the tricks to avoid trouble and the ways to take someone down. She can still assess the risk in seconds and come up with a plan almost as fast (well usually.) One thing for sure, she hasn't forgotten the art of negotiation when she goes in to talk to police chief Grimal. And surprisingly, because it has been over 40 years, she hasn't forgotten how to handle a first date.
When Barbara, undercover, tries to take down yet another gambling operation in a nearby city, she is unhappily surprised to find her new infatuation there, and see him get removed to the gang's back room. Now she has to shut down the operations, capture the Exterminator, and rescue Oliver, her newest love interest. What happens next involves kidnapping of the couple and a convoluted escape plot by the criminal gang. Barbara's undercover character is hilarious and what's more, she catches the eye of one of the young gang members. It makes for some interesting repartee.
This is a fun book, and although slightly predictable, there is a funny little twist I couldn't figure out. Makes you wish you had been an undercover agent when you were young so your more mature years could be a little more exciting!