Final Approach -- Rachel Brady

In Rachel Brady's first novel, skydiver Emily Locke is talked into helping a private-eye named Richard Cole, the man, Emily believes, messed up a previous investigation in which she was involved. Emily's not in the best of shape because of the certain events in her own life, but she agrees to help because she can't stand the thought of parents losing a child because she refused.

Emily, who lives in Ohio, has to travel to Texas to work with Cole. She's the perfect undercover operator for him because she's a skydiver, and Cole's work so far as led him to a skydiving school. Emily joins the school and meets everyone who works there. One of or more of them must be involved in the child's disappearance, but it's going to be tough for Emily to find out who it is, especially since she's not a trained investigator.

She almost immediately gets caught messing with the school's computer system, but before she does, she discovers income that's unaccounted for. Convinced that there's something truly sinister going on, she continues her probe. It gets complicated, dangerous, and violent for all concerned.

Quirky characters, a little romance, and snappy dialog. Plus skydiving, something I wouldn't do (though apparently Brady does) but like to read about. Good fun, and since the book's set in this area, I enjoyed all the local color.