Criminal Karma    by Steven M. Thomas Order:  USA  Can Ballantine, 2009 (2009) Hardcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth If a life of crime has been your goal, Criminal Karma is the book for you. Sort of Crime 101. Read it while plotting your first venture into the criminal underworld. Robert Rivers has been tailing Evelyn Evermore. Sure of himself, he plans to relieve her of (okay, steal) her valuable pink diamond necklace and earrings. He has experience in so doing and is willing to share that experience with the reader. While Robert is in her posh hotel room with the diamonds in hand, all you-know-what breaks loose and he is in a fight for his life. His scruffy partner in crime, Reggie, comes to the rescue and the two of them escape with only the earrings and their 'organs intact.' Not one to give up, Rivers pursues Evelyn, who in turn leads him to the spiritual guru Baba Raba. Rivers doesn't trust this guru who wears a dhoti, exposing his large, rotund and hairy belly. Rivers never gives up on his quest to make the diamonds his own but he feels Evelyn is getting taken to the cleaners as she swallows the guru's tantalizing hints as to where her long lost-daughter might be. Of course, money changes hands and the guru seems to have very large hands. Criminal Karma not only teaches the whys and wherefores of crime but also delves into the teachings of yoga. To write so knowingly of the subject, I'm assuming author Steven Thomas has first-hand knowledge. Although Thomas also speaks knowingly of thievery, I hope this information comes only from research. Criminal Karma is a good, fun book. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews