Bandette, Vol. 3: The House of the Green Mask by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover

This third story of the lady thief Bandette -- after Presto! and Stealers, Keepers! -- is just as much of a frothy, lovely souffle as the first two, and shows that Tobin and Cooper can indeed spin this concoction out beyond its initial lengths.

More complications and elements of this pseudo-French milieu continue to emerge in The House of the Green Mask, but all fit into the essential light-heartedness of the Bandette books: Bandette herself will always be victorious, will always be witty, will always have candy bars to celebrate a glorious theft, will always be supported by her cadre of orphans and other random denizens of this great city, and will face what seem like overwhelming odds with aplomb, style, and a smile on her face.

This is not a realistic world, and is in no danger of ever becoming one; I suppose it's an action farce, if that's a plausible term, and a farce is always highly artificial, taking place in a universe machined to minute tolerances so that the plot can race through it at high speeds and to greatest effect.

I could give more details of that plot here, but what would be the point? A souffle is in the eating. And this is a marvelous one. So go and eat it already.