SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN

3.5 stars out of 5

It's sappy, predictable, too often plays into stereotypes and is reminiscent of the old "Moonlighting" TV show except with constantly bickering PIs who are black instead of white. Despite all that, it's a fun story that's a perfect beach read for those who can weather this year's awful heat. But for me, the back-and-forths got tiring after a short while, and if this is the first in a planned sequel - and the ending suggests that may be the case - I'm not exactly chomping at the bit to read another one.

The plot, though, is not bad - and if private investigators Jackson Jones and Mackenzie Cunningham could only figure out whether it's best to knock each other senseless or get hook up, I'd be fully on board. It begins with both characters - working from their own offices in different but nearby areas of California - are approached by a lawyer named Raymond Patterson. For a substantial retainer and a big reward for success, he wants both to drop whatever else they're doing and concentrate on finding a woman named Ashley, whose mother is dying and desperate to reunite with her daughter. Problem is, Patterson doesn't tell Jackson or Mac that he's hired the other - which means the turf war begins shortly after they begin their investigations and realize they're both vying for the same financial payout.

As the investigation (and the tension between Jackson and Mac) heats up, readers learn about their backgrounds and personal peccadilloes. Both come from different backgrounds - Jackson a former police officer - and both are clearly skilled at their current jobs. Working independently, they constantly intrude on each other's turf, where sparks are inevitable. Being highly competitive certainly isn't unexpected - and for the sake of the story, neither is their obvious attraction to each other (but for the love of heaven, either get it on or get on with it already). 

Their investigations take them to some seedy, dangerous places, and both Mac and Jackson put their considerable self-preservations skills to the test - a must after a dual murder that changes everything . They realize they've both been had - and if they both want to come out of the whole thing alive, they'd better start working together. From there it's just following the clues and trying to get the bad guys before the bad guys get them. All in all, it's a good romp - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Sounds Like a Plan by Pamela Samuels Young and Dwayne Alexander Smith (Atria Books, July 2024); 320 pp.