IF LOOKS COULD KILL: A Bailey Weggins Mystery

At first, it would seem to make sense for Parker Posey, the acclaimed actor who has played memorably ditzy dames in movies such as The Anniversary Party and Waiting for Guffman, to read Cosmopolitan magazine editor White's sexy new mystery novel. But White's heroine, Bailey Weggins, a 33-year-old true crime writer for Gloss magazine, is anything but a flake. She's a shrewd freelancer with a gift for catching the dark side of gender crime. And although Bailey is slightly frazzled from the Gotham dating wars, she's definitely not one of the walking wounded looking to Gloss (and its acerbic editor, Cat Jones) for life-changing advice. Posey's softness and Valley Girl intonations tend to defuse whatever strength White's story—about a murdered nanny and a plot to knock off the editors of top women's magazines—has to offer.

Although the book has strong appeal, this production doesn't have enough oomph to captivate listeners. Based on the Warner Books hardcover (Forecasts, Apr. 8). (Aug.)