Sticks and Stones: A Cat DeLuca Mystery (Cat DeLuca Mysteries)
Fans of Janet Evanovich will enjoy meeting Cat DeLuca, Italian American P.I. and owner of the Pants on Fire Detective Agency, whose specialty is catching cheating spouses. When Cat’s assistant, Cleo, becomes the chief suspect in her husband Walter’s murder, thanks to her loudly voiced threats against him, which a neighbor unfortunately videotaped, Cat investigates to clear her. It turns out Walter was also a blackmailer, greatly widening the range of suspects for Cat to check out. Cat solves the crime with the help of her gorgeous FBI boyfriend, Chance; deli owner Tino, who used to work covert operations for the U.S. government; and her many connected DeLuca relatives, who are either Chicago police or private investigators. While working the murder investigation, she’s also trying to photograph Steve Greger with his mistress, but he knows Cat is following him and taunts her as he repeatedly escapes her camera. Cat’s interfering but loving family and the novel’s evocative setting in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood combine with the engaging Cat and plenty of humor in a satisfying series entry. --Sue OBrien--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.