The Yoga Club

When Greenwich, Connecticut newcomer and derriere cream entrepreneur Coco Guthrie attends her business partner's Halloween party dressed as Sarah Palin, she quickly hits it off with the three other Palins present, all of whom attend the same%C2%A0yoga class. After leaving the party to view the architectural monstrosity that is the mayor's estate, they unexpectedly witness the mayor, in full bondage gear, rolling a dead woman into a carpet%E2%80%94and he sees them. The next day, all four receive letters ordering them to keep mum, lest doctored evidence of their own indiscretions be released to the public. Not the types to be bullied, they start their own investigation by enlisting the help of handsome local detective Rob Casey and seducing the mayor's aide, Malcolm.%C2%A0 All the while they suffer personal problems of their own and must rely on their newfound friends for support. After several nonfiction titles (e.g. The Cult of Perfection), Lawrence's debut novel is adorably charming;%C2%A0she manages to incorporate just enough of the spoiled privilege and insecurity of the ultra-wealthy to make her Greenwich set seem authentic and vulnerable, while littering the tale with money, celebrity, and numerous New York City landmarks. Readers will delight in the antics of this gang and will be curious to see if Lawrence can deliver a second hit. (Dec.)