Bird in a Cage: A Deb Ralston Mystery

The 11th Deb Ralston story (following Inherited Murder) is an exciting procedural that balances Deb's family life and her work as a Fort Worth, Tex., police detective. While Deb and her husband celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary at a huge new nightclub, a cable breaks during the floor show and a trapeeze acrobat falls from a gilded cage to her death. The victim, from a long line of circus performers, had no apparent enemies, so Deb focuses her investigation on the extortion threats received by the restaurant owner. Then, as each new lead dead-ends, Deb, aided by her computer-whiz husband, turns to the Internet for clues. A breathless, high-flying climax caps this lively tale of a hard-working, risk-taking mom. (Aug.)