Déjà vu

Michaels's 19th installment in her Sisterhood series (after Cross Roads) is slow-paced and underwhelming, choked with dialogue and saddled with a laughable villain. When the president of the United States gives the directors of the FBI, CIA, and Homeland Security 30 days to find wanted murderer Hank Jellicoe, the group of female vigilantes known as the Sisters decide to take matters into their own hands and track down Jellicoe themselves. The Sisters have a history and a personal score to settle with Jellico and are determined to bring him to justice. Taking advantage of an immunity deal, they hopscotch from one clue to another as they hunt for Jellicoe's long-lost wife in hopes of finding out more about Jellicoe's whereabouts. Readers new to the Sisterhood series will find it difficult to parse the many characters and connections, or look past the plodding, paper-thin plot. (Jan.)