Miracle Strip

Like the fabled hooker with the heart of gold, Panama City, Fla., stripper Sierra Lavotini flaunts her 24-carat concern for a bartender's abducted dog in this wise-cracking debut. When Arlo the mutt is snatched, his gorgeous redheaded owner, Denise, gets a ransom note asking for $100,000, and Sierra agrees to help look for the missing dog. After a dead man turns up in Denise's motel room, Sierra learns that her friend has run away from her abusive former lover, a drug dealer who is now out of prison. Sierra speeds after a car in which she sees Arlo but is forced off the road by the other driver. In the hospital, she learns Denise is now missing. Taking up the search for friend and dog, Sierra must sidestep the proprietary attitude of her boss, a squabbling but intent police duo and her solicitous trailer-park neighbors, all of whom think she's in over her head. Spunky Sierra, aided by her Chihuahua, Fluffy, her unquestioning confidante and supporter, devises plan after plan to find her friend and snatch back Arlo. In the process, she steps up the heart rate of a stolid cop and lets readers in on her views of her trade. (Sept.)