Mystery, familial love and connection, friendship, and a little peril.
Plot
Mike's Uncle Ted has invited the foursome of friends to Charleston, South Carolina. What started as a deal to caddy a golf tournament before enjoying a vacation ends up turning into a desperate search for truth when Uncle Ted is arrested for having stolen priceless museum pieces. But Ricky and Co. don't believe it. Now if they could figure out who the real thief is before time cheats them of that goal....
Morality
The main characters are people of good morals (or are at least believed to be so by some). They really care for each other and have no second thoughts when it comes to helping each other out.
Ricky and Co. bark like large dogs to scare off a reporter, and then Devon turns on the sprinklers to soak the reporter and her cameraman. One character lies to protect another. Another breaks into a building and hacks a computer to gather information.
Definite lessons about vices that follow from a love of money.
Spiritual Content
As much of God as Ricky sees in creation, he is more in awe of His love. He thinks of Heaven several times. Ted, Devon, and Devon's girlfriend are church-goers. Ricky's dad tells him that the Bible says that it's the love of money that is the root of evil. (I Tim. 6:10 - literally, money is the root of "all kinds" of evil.)
Violence
The reporter and her cameraman have a series of slapstick accidents. A character is pulled out of a burning building in the nick of time. There are a couple subsequent explosions that send debris flying, though no injuries are caused.
Ricky imagines historical facts about Charleston, including slaving pirates and civil war cannons.
A man threatens to strangle Devon. A policeman applies pressure to a nerve. A man hits his head (not seriously) in a fall. Ricky goes to tackle a man, but is rabbit-punched and gets a foot to his neck and another on his hand. Lisa's arm is twisted.
Drug and Alcohol Content
Uncle Ted is said to smoke constantly. It's revealed that Devon had a past of drug abuse.
Sexual Content
Nothing serious. Devon has a Christian girlfriend. Ricky refers to a young woman as "cute", though it's clear that he has no feelings for her; Ralphy is tongue-tied around her at first.
Crude or Profane Language or Content
Ricky places a couple Cheetos up Ralphy's nose. Mike shoves them up all the way in a moment of "crisis", resulting in Ralphy's discomfort. When he sneezes them out later, an ignorant man touches them.
Conclusion
A well-written mystery with a lot to say on the subject of loving money. The characters are easy to sympathize with and are (for the most part) good examples of virtues.
This review is brought to you by Ariel_of_Narnia.
