Mission Canyon is reminiscent of Gardiner’s first novel, China Lake (also reviewed on Myshelf), with mysterious characters, tension-filled storytelling and stylish prose.  Gardiner absolutely knows how to build suspense, dropping in clues and surprises at precisely the right moment.  She also knows how let the reader catch a breath once in a while, too, with sharp, biting humor.  Evan once again proves herself to be a worthy leading lady.  Compared to some of the other fictional heroines on the shelves, Evan is a breath of fresh air.

It’s not a perfect novel.  The plot, at times, seemed overly complex, requiring a reminder or two about some of the information already given.  There were times when the fast-paced plot bogged down a bit, stalled unnecessarily by information that felt superfluous.  While the give and take between Jesse and Evan definitely adds to the tension of the novel, there were times when it felt somewhat redundant.

Those things aren’t enough to undermine an otherwise entertaining read.  Gardiner is establishing herself here in the U.S. as one of the best thriller writers in the business.