Calamity Jayne

Bacus's riotous romantic suspense debut offers plenty of smalltown charm and oddball characters, notably ditzy blonde Tressa Jayne Turner, who has earned the moniker Calamity Jayne for the disastrous events that follow wherever she goes. One night after working the late shift at Bargain City in Granville, Iowa, Tressa mistakes another car for her own, and ends up on a dark country road with a flat tire. Instead of a spare, Tressa finds the town's drug-smuggling attorney dead in the trunk and an envelope of greenbacks in the glove compartment. In a panic, Tressa goes for help, but when she returns with Ranger Rick, her hunky nemesis from high school who turns up at all the right moments, the car has disappeared, dead body, cash and all. Naturally, no one believes the incident happened, except for the murderer, who's determined to recover the money he believes Tressa has snatched. Filled with dumb-blonde jokes, nonstop action and rapid-fire banter, this is a perfect read for chick-lit fans who enjoy a dash of mystery. (Jan.)