THE NIGHTMARE THIEF by Meg Gardiner

Finished We 9/18/13
September 2013 selection for The Contemporary Book Club

Post on Goodreads-

This is a Jo Beckett Thriller that also features Gardiner's other adventure heroine, Evan Delaney in a tale that centers on 'An Extreme Reality Experience'. A very wealthy hedge fund manager arranges a birthday party for his daughter and five of her friends in which they will be featured players in a 'role-playing urban-reality game', but Edge Adventures, the company that hosts the event has been usurped by a band of criminals who are using the game to mask a multi-million dollar kidnapping. The plot is fairly intricate and a real page turner, but doesn't take the time for much character development. It almost has the feel of a screen play and it would certainly make a fine Action/Adventure film, but it's not finely crafted literature, and veers close to parody. I guess the author set out to make the book as 'over-the-top' as possible, but it has the feel of an airport read or a book for the beach. Nothing wrong with that, but be forewarned.

NOTES-

Autumn Reiniger- She's the kidnap victim

REINIGER CAPITAL-Her father's (Peter) investment group

EDGE ADVENTURES-Urban reality games, role-playing scenarios into the demimonde of crime rescue. 

Terry Coates-The game runner. Former Oakland cop.

"Kyle Ritter". Bad Cowboy. The Red Rattler.

Dane Haugen- He was fired from Reinger after being traumatized by Edge Adventure. He's terrified of snakes.

Sabine-With Haugen on their own 'adventure'. Also Von Nordlinger

Evan Delaney-Forensic psychiatrist who helps journalist Jo Beckett track down Autumn.

Delaney is working on a murder/disappearance of Phelps Wylie. He worked for Reinger and was found at the bottom of a mine shaft. No reason for him to be there.

Lark, Dustin (Autumn's boyfriend), Autumn, Peyton (broken collar bone, snake bit), Cody Grier (shot and killed),Noah (shot and badly broken leg) -The six kids on the birthday party.

Gabe Qunitana-Boyfriend of Jo Beckett. He's highly trained rescue expert (PJ-Air National Guard pararescueman). Recovering from a gunshot wound.

Tang-Female SF cop that aids Evan in the investigation.