Death Likes It Hot (24 page)

Liz came and sat on my lap, her hands were busy and
embarrassing. “Stop that!” were the first words of mine Mr. Wheen heard.

“Stop what?” The voice was harsh, gravelly. “I just now got you, Mr. Sargeant.…”

“I didn’t mean
you
, sir,” I said smoothly. “I understand you’ve been trying to get in touch with me.…”

“Yeah, that’s right. I think I got a job for you. It’s about Muriel Sandoe.”

“Muriel Sandoe? I don’t think.…”

“She was an associate of mine. You know her maybe by her professional name in the circus: ‘Peaches’ Sandoe. Well, you see this elephant.…”

DEATH IN THE FIFTH POSITION

In
Death in the Fifth Position
, dashing P.R. man Peter Sargeant is hired by a ballet company on the eve of a major upcoming performance. Handling the press seems to be no problem, but when a rising star in the company is killed during the performance—dropped from thirty feet above the stage, crashing to her death in a perfect fifth position—Sargeant has a real case on his hands. As he ingratiates himself with the players behind the scenes (especially one lovely ballerina), he finds that this seemingly graceful ballet company is performing their most dramatic acts behind the curtain. There are sharp rivalries, sordid affairs, and shady characters. Sargeant, though, has no trouble staying on point and proving that the ballerina killer is no match for his keen eye and raffish charm.

Crime Fiction/978-0-307-74142-4

DEATH BEFORE BEDTIME

In
Death Before Bedtime
, Peter Sargeant is invited to the home of a venerable senator to help strategize his imminent run for president. On the night before he’s to announce, though, the senator is murdered in his bed. No longer needed as a political publicist, Sargeant finds himself helping the police find the killer. He deftly navigates an eccentric cast of characters, all of whom are suspects: the rebellious daughter; the sycophantic aide; the grieving widow; and the power-hungry governor with his eye on the senator’s job. Somehow, between charming the senator’s daughter and glad-handing Washington’s elite, Sargeant still manages to methodically put the pieces into place and sees that politics truly is a cutthroat business.

Crime Fiction/978-0-307-74143-1

VINTAGE CRIME/BLACK LIZARD
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