SOLVED. Grandmother is recruited to mercenary group following attempted kidnap of granddaughter [s]

[Barry]

The book is about a group of hired mercenaries, all with unique skills or hi-tech gadgets. The central character is a grandmother who is recruited following the attempted kidnap of her granddaughter at a play area. The book was written late 90's / early 00's (read in 2008ish). The book was the first in a series and was pretty light hearted and humorous.

I can recall the setting of the end and a little of the plot if this jogs anyone's memory.

Thankyou

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Barry--you need to put in everything you remember about the book. Sometimes that's what is needed to jog the ol' memory card. . .

If you want to "hide" the spoiler, there is a way to do that. Type <*spoiler*> then the body of the spoiler <*/spoiler*> just take out the * and (view spoiler)[you get something that looks like this (hide spoiler)].

[Barry]

Thanks Ann

I remember the cover had images of a spherical webcam types devices.

Basic plot outline and minor spoilers below

(view spoiler)[ The grandmother goes on a chase, stealing cars, forging passports etc. She's then recruited into the mercenary group (I've a feeling it has an acronym).

The kidnap of her granddaughter is due to some villains wanting some tech her son has worked on and the mercenary group are also hired to locate said tech. The hero's husband recruits a local gangster (who may have been romantically involved with his wife previously.) The husband is not close to the son but they share a love of Celtic Football Club and a Celtic European match is the backdrop for the finale as the son is located, there are double crosses. The finale is in a major European City with a port - I think it may be Barcelona and the novel ends with a military attack on a yacht.

The mercenary group contains a leader who may be French or Belgian and provides a romantic interest, I remember a helicopter pilot too. (hide spoiler)]

The novel did have a comedic charm to it despite the plot ouline.

[Crystal]

Just commenting, so I can follow the progress

[Barry]

Time for a bump I think - really can't remember this one and it's bugging me!

[Barry]

Solved this;

All Fun and Games until Someone Loses an Eye by Christopher Brookmyre

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Thanks for letting us know, Barry.

[Michele]

All Fun and Games Until Somebody Loses an Eye for the click.