Reviewed by Saifunnissa Hassam for Readers' Favorite

D. B. Borton's novel Smoke is a well-crafted contemporary mystery story involving art theft and murder. Marge (or M. J.) Smith has decades of experience as a private operative of a securities specialty firm, Levesque Security, and its sister company, Quixote, Ltd. Marge is at The Elms Relaxation and Recuperation Center recovering from a broken leg. An elderly woman also recuperating at The Elms is murdered. Marge becomes involved in the investigation when Levesque Security discovers that a world-class collection of modern art paintings was stolen from the murdered client's home in Washington DC. Marge is stunned when she reads the list: Picasso, Monet, Gaughin, Roualt, Vuillard, Degas, Hopper, and Miró. The paintings include masterpieces stolen decades ago during the Iranian revolution from the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in 1979! Marge's investigation leads her to Italy and Texas in pursuit of the stolen art and to find the murderer!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Smoke for its memorable characters and gripping plotline of murder and convoluted art thefts. I particularly liked the character of Marge Smith, with her considerable investigative experience, knowledge, and sharp mind. I liked her resilience, determination, and courage, her sense of humor, and how her broken leg adds to the humor of awkward situations and heightens the suspense. The plotline for the art theft was fantastic, and I became immersed in the story as Marge takes on two challenges -- resolving the mystery of the art thefts, and solving the murder. The story's other major characters added to the drama, the humor, and the suspense. The most poignant parts for me involved the back story of the murdered client. The narrative, the settings, and the dialogue were particularly evocative as the past and present weave in and out. The unexpected twists and turns kept me on edge. D. B. Borton's mystery novel Smoke is a page-turner, a thriller with an extraordinary sleuth in Marge Smith.