Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies

This amusing romantic mystery from Moke (She Doesn’t Have a Clue) follows the misadventures of Juliette Winters, marketing director of Seattle publishing house Simon Says. In an effort to save the struggling company, Juliette brokers a deal to publish the tell-all memoir of high-profile business tycoon Warren Ellingham. She plans to pick up the manuscript at Warren’s 70th birthday party aboard a luxury yacht belonging to Pacific Pines, his ultra-exclusive country club. During the festivities, however, Warren drops dead of an apparent heart attack, and—even more disturbing for Juliette—his manuscript goes missing. With the financial fate of her employer on the line, Juliette sets off to track down the memoir and discover the truth behind Warren’s death. Helping her is hunky, patient doctor Charlie Hawkins, whom Juliette first meets when he examines Warren after his death. Plausible suspects, punchy dialogue, and steamy sex abound, though Moke doesn’t break any new ground. Nonetheless, mystery fans looking for a brisk and bawdy whodunit will walk away satisfied. Agent: Elizabeth Bewley, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Jan.)