Last Rites: The 1st Stevie Houston Mystery (Stevie Houston Mysteries)
Auto-erotic strangulation is a rather unholy demise, especially for a beloved parish priest. When the grisly death turns out to be murder, newly promoted Detective Stevie Houston is determined to solve it. But when one of the suspects turns up dead, police officials brand him the killer and pronounce the case open-and-shut. Stevie's investigation into the victim's personal and professional life has turned up an old scandal, some powerful enemies, a ruthless rival, and a vengeful ex-lover. All this convinces her that her superior's conclusions just don't add up. But the powers-that-be aren't interested in a rookie detective's arithmetic. They want the case closed -- now! Stevie knows that if she pursues the case against their wishes, she risks spending the rest of her career writing traffic tickets. What she doesn't know is that the investigation could be leading her on a one-way trip to the wrong side of a body bag. Last Rites launches a new detective and demonstrates Tracey Richardson's gifted talents as a master of mystery fiction and a writer to look forward to!  --Midwest Book Review