cover image Lust, Loathing and a Little Lip Gloss

Lust, Loathing and a Little Lip Gloss

Kyra Davis, . . Mira, $13.95 (368pp) ISBN 978-0-7783-2736-3

In Davis's otherworldly fourth chick lit cozy to feature San Francisco author and amateur sleuth Sophie Katz (after 2007's Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate ), a chance meeting with her realtor ex-husband leads Sophie to the three-bedroom Victorian of her dreams. The price is unbelievably low, but there's a catch. The house's owner, Kane Crammer, has stipulated Sophie must join the San Francisco Specter Society and regularly attend séances. The deal appears harmless enough, until one of the society members is murdered in a genuine locked-door mystery. The victim's estranged wife hires Sophie's current lover, PI Anatoly Darinsky, to find the real killer and eliminate her as a suspect. Sophie, unable to resist investigating on her own, soon discovers Kane harbors ulterior motives and has no intention of letting her buy his property. Humor, romance and an appealing, spirited protagonist add up to an entertaining read. (June)