Journalist Nikki Holden had survived a childhood that would have destroyed a weaker woman. She had fought through hell to a life that suited her, carefully keeping people at arm's length. Then, during a story on a Miami jai-alai fronton and a top player, she runs into Matt, an ex-soldier and former mercenary who is now a private detective, a man willing to let Nikki have her space as long as he can be there with her. A wonderful start to a romantic mystery series that only ran to two books, a true shame.

Nikki and Matt are back, now living together. Nikki is chasing a story on UFOs while Matt works to free a friend from suspicions of his involvement in a hijacking. Matt is trying to stop hovering over Nikki, nearly recovered from the horrendous beating she received in DANGEROUS PLACES. Nikki is appalled by the feeling she has for Matt, weakening her desire for freedom and independence. Being with Matt requires severe adjustments she wasn't certain she was ready to make. Another enjoyable tale in a short-lived series. If you liked this book and DANGEROUS PLACES, consider reading A. E. Maxwell's Fiddler and Fiona series.

Elaine Raco Chase and Anne Wingate base the premise of this book as helpful based on the "one-must-do-one's-own-reading" premise; of the mystery novels we like, in order to write one of our own with believable characters and an interesting plotline. Although I totally agree with this suggestion, I can say this is hardly news for any serious writer of any genre. It is so how we are presented with a very extensive list of suggested reading, where all types of amateur detectives display their wit and wisdom (Chapter 1). I have found it very helpful indeed as reference for a bibliography on mystery novels. Later on, the book explains different laws for citizen's arrest in each and every one of the States of the Union. This is unfortunate (and very long), since it will only help you if you are setting your novel in the United States of America, making the book a prejudist one. The authors argue that whenever they requested information from other governments, they were ignored. I don't quite really know what to make of them as researchers.

A chapter that can summarize the first intention of the book is the one called "Resume of an amateur detective" (Chapter 3). However, it is very superficial and it won't provide any more information about creating your own amateur sleuth than you may be able to find elsewhere or come up with from your own writer's imagination, AFTER you have done the required and fruitful reading. There is also a chapter with lots of internet resources but, unless they are very general (such as the Library of Congress or the White House), it becomes invariably outdated (this also applies for the chapter on laws of the United States which change, at least, every year). I think nowadays most writers would be capable of using a search engine and find whatever it is they are looking for on the internet and more.

This book suffers from looking more like a law book for bounty hunters than a writer's reference. It's solid but too general, and the author assume that the only crime you'll ever write about is going to take place in the USA. They forgetting that people who buy the Howdunnit Series are from everywhere around the world. If you want a solid book on the same topic, get 'Private Eyes' by Hal Blyth in the same series. See my review on it.

When I first started reading Amateur Detectives, I felt that it needed much more than it offered, however as I kept reading the book kept getting better and better. As the book starts off, it talks about the history of amateur detectives, which is specifically geared towards detective novelists. I found it fascinating to learn where some very established writers got their inspiration.

The biggest (and best) section of this book talks about state and federal weapon regulations. It talks about concealed fire arms as well. It was very interesting to read the different laws per state, and especially interesting to read about my own state. I really have learned a lot about the gun regulations. This section really makes up for the slow beginning of the book.