College freshman Mari Sandoval has a big problem. A shadowy figure calling himself “Brax” has kidnapped her scientist mother and is holding her hostage until Mari hands over Mom’s top-secret research. Alone and unsure, Mari is about to do just that when she’s stopped by a group of young women calling themselves the “Banana Girls.”

Mari soon learns that these women may be college students but they’re no ordinary coeds. They live in a posh penthouse, fight like ninjas, drive a fleet of exotic cars, and have gadgets James Bond would envy. What follows is a page-turning adventure with Mari and the Banana Girls teaming up to try to rescue Dr. Sandoval and checkmate the bad guys. Mari is certainly motivated, but she’s not an experienced spy. Can she pull off her undercover assignment or will the bad guys prevail?

This book is a spy thriller and more. Although she’s barely out of high school, Mari finds she must jump into adulting with both feet. She tackles the challenge with grit and steadfast determination. As the story progresses, she grows to overcome her self-doubts, ultimately discovering she’s capable of much more than she imagined.

I like strong female characters and Spies Never Quit has plenty of them. The four Banana Girls are smart and resourceful, of course. Plus, Mari herself has more strengths and talents than she realized. As supporting characters, the Banana Girls are somewhat less fleshed out, but they are still (mostly) convincing. And I was impressed that a male writer did such an excellent job making his female protagonists believable. Furthermore, when the tension ratchets up, it’s done with action, not produced artificially by having characters play head games with themselves.

At times, the book is a bit over the top. For example, the Banana Girls have cars that can change color on demand, they have a seemingly endless supply of high-tech electronics, and the supposedly top-secret operation runs out of a flashy condo. But spy stories are often over the top, and Spies Never Quit never reaches the level of satire of, say, Get Smart, the spy spoof show that played on American television in the 1960s.

Even if it is a bit escapist, this book was so much fun to read I had no trouble suspending disbelief when the story required it. Spies Never Quit is a thriller and an adventure with a dash of romance. For me, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I’m eagerly looking forward to the promised sequel.