The appealing character of "Mustang" Sally Alder makes up for an implausible plot in Swift's third mystery to feature the former-hippie-turned-college-prof (after 2002's Bad Company
). The talented Sally not only has made a reputation as an amateur sleuth but plays guitar and does the vocals with a Laramie, Wyo., band, the Millionaires, and has frequent and supercharged sex with her live-in lover and fellow professor, Hawk Green. When folk singer legend Nina Cruz, the ex-wife of Sally's all-time heartthrob country singer, Thomas "Stone" Jackson, asks her former husband to headline a benefit concert for Wild West, a group of radical environmental activists, Stone turns to Sally for help in looking into Wild West—and into Nina's increasingly peculiar behavior. Stone also invites Sally's band to join the concert, but plans are put on hold when someone shoots Nina dead. A member of the Millionaires later becomes a homicide victim, while the threats and attempts on Sally's own life escalate as she digs into Nina's string of past and present lovers. The author strains to connect all the dots, but most readers should enjoy the ride. Cozy fans should be prepared for some strong language amid the light tone. Agent, Elaine Koster. (Nov. 1)
