Tucker Sinclair looked forward to starting her own firm as a management consultant, but business hasn't been that prosperous so far. After leaving the firm of Aames and Associates, she looked forward to no longer working for a corporation.

When ex cop turned private investigator Charley Tate calls Tucker for management help, she takes on the job thinking it will be a quick fix and she will move on to the next case. Charley's business Tate Investigations is under financial trouble. He needs Tucker's help to find a way to pick his business up out of the hole it's in.

When a woman named Eve Lawson enters Tate Investigations wanting to hire Charley, things start to be looking better for the small business. Eve thinks someone is following her and she wants to hire Charley to find out who it is. She's a quiet woman in her 40's and is writing a book. This seems like an easy case, so Charley agrees to take it on and collects his fee from Eve Lawson.

Shortly after starting the job, Eve Lawson disappears causing Charley to be concerned with her whereabouts. If someone is after Eve, did they get to her before Charley could investigate the case? While trying to find out what happened, Charley becomes injured and needs Tucker's help with the investigation. With no experience as a P.I., Tucker uses her wit and brains to figure out this case.

After a conversation with Eve's family, Tucker discovers that they haven't seen or heard from her in a long time. They would like to hire Charley to find Eve with a payout of $100,000 if they find her. This is exactly the kind of money that would help Tate Investigations! With Charley still not well enough, Tucker takes on the job of finding Eve Lawson.

Will Tucker be able to find Eve Lawson and bring her back home to her family? Did Eve run away from an abusive or dangerous boyfriend? Why did this woman hire Tate Investigations and then disappear?

SHORT CHANGE is the third installment in the Tucker Sinclair series. This is an interesting mystery with a lot of attention to detail. The story is mostly mystery oriented, with a very small touch of romance, and unfortunately no humor.

Readers be advised that the Janet Evanovich comparisons that you may have heard are wrong. Yes, there is a mystery to be solved by a woman, but that is the only similarities.

This is a compelling book, but may not keep everyone's interest to the end. If you stick with it, you will find a satisfying conclusion that neatly ties up all loose ends. I would have preferred more action and excitement through out the rest of the book but overall this was a good read.