An Artful Assassin in Amsterdam

David Mitre, the narrator of Grant’s amusing sequel to 2018’s A Sudden Death in Cyprus, describes himself as “a (retired) thief and grifter, and currently an author. If that seems an unlikely collection of occupations, consider that a grifter is by definition a storyteller.” He’s in Amsterdam, “land of legal weed and tall, gorgeous women riding bikes,” to participate in a writers’ conference. However, someone is determined to kill him. Fortunately, FBI agent Delia Delacorte, who has used Mitre’s special skills before, is also looking for him and saves him from yet another attempt on his life. They make a deal: she’ll find out who’s after him and he’ll help her with a tricky potential art theft. A wealthy and powerful man, known as United States Person One, has hired a gang of professional thieves to steal a Vermeer, looted by the Nazis during WWII, from the Rijksmuseum. Delacorte is confident Mitre can figure out the thieves’ plan and stop it without them or USP One getting arrested. This is sheer high-speed fun. Readers will hope Mitre has a long career. Agent: Robert Kirby, United Agents. (Dec.)