Sunset City

Houston barista Charlotte Ford, the heroine of poet Ginsburg’s absorbing fiction debut, is devastated by the bludgeoning murder of her “oldest, dearest friend,” Danielle Reeves, a rich, troubled young woman whose past includes abuse, addiction, and a prison stint. At the time of her death, Danielle was working for a pornographic website, SweetDreamz. Charlotte passes on any information of potential interest—such as that Danielle’s estranged mother, Sally, was handling an inheritance—to the detective in charge of the case. As Charlotte investigates Danielle’s life, she becomes intimately involved with Danielle’s boss at SweetDreamz, Brandon, and her coworker, Audrey. Ginsburg (Dear Weather Ghost) evokes some palpable moments of grief, exhaustion, and drink- and drug-fueled bad behavior in a novel that’s steamy in both the sexual and atmospheric senses. Despite the thin plotting and lack of overall suspense, readers will enjoy getting to know the feisty Charlotte. Agent: Duvall Osteen, Aragi. (Apr.)