Linda Barnes is an American mystery writer, born and raised in Detroit, and graduated from Boston University"s School of Theater. She is best known for her series featuring Carlotta Carlyle, a 6'1" redheaded detective from Boston. Carlotta Carlyle is often compared to the hard-boiled female detectives created by Sue Grafton and Sara Paretsky. Her new novel, "The Perfect Ghost," which will be published in April, 2013, is her first stand-alone mystery.
I loved the Carlotta mysteries, so I took a chance on this. Nicely plotted with a touch of wit. Interesting investigator with at least an unhappy relationship history. I hope to round out his character with additional books in the series.
Michael Spraggue III series - Michael Spraggue, a wealthy private eye turned movie actor, is in the middle of making a trashy Hollywood movie about -- what else? -- a private eye, when he gets a phone call from his sometime lover and current business partner in a California winery, Kate Holloway. Kate has troubling news. Not only has Lenny Brent, their volatile winemaker, vanished, but an unidentifiable corpse has appeared -- and Kate's the prime suspect! Spraggue hurries over in time to discover a second dead body -- that of Lenny.
Michael Spraggue is an independently wealthy man who is a private eye, a movie actor and co-owner of a vinyard. Reminds me of Batman...independently wealthy crime fighter... spry clever aunt, devoted servant...etc. Eh, OK....