Lie Down With the Devil...
I love Linda Barnes' Carlotta Carlyle mysteries, which are just about perfect as far as I'm concerned. I was thinking the other day that it was a while since I'd read one - it was Heart of the World when it was first out in hardcover, so she must have another book by now. I checked at the library, and so she does: Lie Down With the Devil.
I didn't want to put it down; read it almost in one go. It was a very nice follow-up to the events of Heart of the World (which, without putting in spoilers, are pretty traumatic for all concerned). A good mystery - I could see how things would fit together, I predicted who would be killed and (in a vague sense) why before the murder even happened; but the story still had twists I hadn't anticipated, and I fingered the wrong culprit.
And even better are the developments in Carlotta's love life. I never much liked Sam Gianelli (was I supposed to?) and her increasing closeness to him in Heart of the World was worrisome. Happily, this book distances her from Gianelli and links her up with Mooney. And about time, too.
And does it in a way I very much liked: by building him up more as a character, making him more sympathetic, getting himself involved in the case for Carlotta's sake and at some risk to his career. We see Carlotta through his eyes.
I liked it also that it wasn't just a matter of Paolina being rescued from her kidnapping in Heart of the World and carrying on with her life. She's cutting herself, she's mute, she's refusing to see Carlotta, and she's communicating through music.
Poor Carlotta.
We also learn the secret in Carlotta's past that she never told anyone before; and why Paolina means so much to her.
All in all, a great read, and I hope it isn't long till the next one comes out. Nothing is announced yet, but I'm hoping soon.