Louisiana Lament

Julie Smith. Forge, $24.95 (301pp) ISBN 978-0-7653-0553-4

African-American poet and PI Talba Wallis and her boss Eddie Valentino investigate a society-page murder that gets uglier by the minute in Edgar-winner Julie Smith's fast-paced Louisiana Lament, the third in the series (after 2002's Louisiana Bigshot). From biker bar to college campus, the chase is on, and readers will remain hooked until the killer's comeuppance in the clever conclusion. Agent, Vicky Vijur.

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