Behind Eclaire's Doors: A Tale of Murder and Mayhem in New Orleans

With dialogue that suggests outtakes from TV's Designing Women and a vapid, snobbish sleuth/protagonist in high-society hairdresser Claire Claiborne, this first novel aspires to a stylishness it doesn't achieve. Claire's life seems defined by extended bouts between the sheets (and pretty much anywhere else) with hunky patent and trademark lawyer Dan, who is soon found standing over the corpse of Angie, a bitchy nail-buffer from Claire's salon. Angie had also conducted a brisk business selling fake designer clothing, bags and scents to the New Orleans elite and had dated a number of Dan's sleazy lawyer pals. The ludicrous plot, related in bodice-ripper prose, involves a secret formula for a cheap cologne that would sell in tony stores for hundreds of dollars an ounce. The cast, including a bigoted cop, two nasty law partners and a loyal wife, features only three suspects, and the local flavor is limited to carry-out beignets from Cafe Du Monde. Readers seeking the satisfactions of sassy New Orleans crime should stick with Julie Smith ( The Axman's Jazz et al.). (July)