"One of my favorite new mystery series, perfect escapism."―Sarah Weinman, National Post The first book of an electrifying new series, Ian Hamilton's The Disciple of Las Vegas introduces Ava Lee: a deadly martial artist with a taste for luxury and a mind like a steel trap. Fifty million dollars has disappeared into thin air from the accounts of one of the richest men in the Philippines, Tommy Ordonez. His one hope is Ava Lee―sleek, capable forensic accountant and sleuth. With the help of her Triad-connected partner, Uncle, Ava follows the money trail from San Francisco to Costa Rica to the casinos and illegal gambling dens of Las Vegas. Meanwhile, a vengeful adversary from Ava's past has put out a contract on her life, and the shadowy hit man is close at her heels every step of the way. Will Ava recover the stolen cash without stepping into the crosshairs of a growing list of enemies? Ava Lee does whatever is necessary, even severing a recalcitrant wrongdoer’s thumb, to recover massive debts for her clients. The petite lesbian Chinese Canadian forensic accountant uses her sharp wits, her martial-arts training, and the connections provided by her mentor and partner—a Chinese man in his 70s known to her as “Uncle”—to operate internationally below the radar of the law. When Tommy Ordonez, the richest man in the Philippines, finds $50 million missing from the Canadian arm of his business, Ava soon discovers that the money was lost by the billionaire’s gambling-addicted brother in online poker games that were rigged by manipulating software. Proving this claim while trying to protect innocent middlemen takes Ava from her home in Toronto to Hong Kong, Manila, San Francisco, Vancouver, Victoria, Las Vegas, and London—all the while watching her back, thanks to a contract taken out on her by an adversary. From Canadian author Hamilton, this is slick, fast-moving escapism reminiscent of Ian Fleming, with more to come in what shapes up as a high-energy, high-concept series. --Michele Leber “Hamilton makes each page crackle with the kind of energy that could easily jump to the movie screen....This riveting read will keep you up late at night. It may also make you look twice from now on at any woman wearing pointy shoes.” ― Rachel Kramer Bussel, Penthouse “Formidable...Ava Lee is unbeatable at just about everything....She's perfect.” ― Toronto Star “Ian Hamilton makes the global search for hidden money as thrilling as James Bond fleeing down a snowy slope on one ski. Ava Lee is tough, fearless, quirky, and resourceful, and she has more---well, you know---than half a dozen male detectives I can think of. Ian Hamilton knows his stuff, and he has created a true original in Ava Lee.” ― Linwood Barclay, author of No Time for Goodbye “A fascinating story of a hunt for stolen millions. And the hunter, Ava Lee, is a compelling heroine: tough, smart, and resourceful.” ― Meg Gardiner, author of The Nightmare Thief “Ian Hamilton really knows his stuff, offering intriguing insights into a secret world and a heroine as fascinating as she is fierce. A fantastic read, I can't wait for the next one.” ― Simon Lewis, author of Bad Traffic “Hamilton has created a marvelous character in Ava Lee.” ― The Globe and Mail (Toronto) “Readers will discern in Ava undertones of Lisbeth Salander....Irresistible.” ― The London Free Press “Slick, fast-moving escapism reminiscent of Ian Fleming.” ― Booklist “High-end travel, cuisine, and product placement add glitz, while Ava's circle of mostly offstage friends and family lend enough personal depth to lift this thriller above solely action-oriented fare.” ― Publishers Weekly Ian Hamilton  has had a range of careers over the span of his life, from journalist to diplomat, but it wasn’t until a health scare that he sat down to write his first novel. Ava Lee was the heroine that came to him and so the series was born. Hamilton’s journalism has been featured in Maclean’s and  Saturday Night Magazine. He is the author of The Disciple of Las Vegas , The Wild Beasts of Wuhan , The Red Pole of Macau , and The Water Rat of Wanchai . He lives in Burlington, Ontario, with his wife, Lorraine. He has four children and seven grandchildren. The Disciple of Las Vegas By Ian Hamilton Picador Copyright © 2013 Ian Hamilton All right reserved. ISBN: 9781250031938 (1)   When Ava Lee woke up, the first thing she felt was a sharp pain shooting through her neck and shoulder. She stretched, causing the pain to become more intense, and then slowly relaxed her muscles. She knew from experience that the lashing she had endured wasn’t going to cause any long-term damage. She turned her head to look at the bedside clock. It was only 6 a.m. She had flown home to Toronto around midnight and had been in bed for less than five hours. She had thought that two melatonin capsules and a glass of Pinot Grigio would see her through the night, but the pain and a mind that was still a jumb