Clutches and Curses: A Haley Randolph Mystery

In Howell's frothy fourth mystery featuring handbag-obsessed Haley Randolph (after 2010's Shoulder Bags and Shootings), Holt's Department Store employee Haley seizes the chance to work at a new branch in Henderson, Nev., near Las Vegas after being cursed by an irate customer with an eastern European accent at the L.A. flagship store. Soon after she arrives at the Holt's in Henderson, Haley stumbles on the bloody corpse of a young woman on the floor of the women's dressing room. While the police are a tad suspicious when she claims not to recognize the victim, Courtney Collins, with whom she went to high school, lucky Haley remains free to seek not only the killer but also the Delicious, "the hottest handbag of the season." The well-crafted plot offers plenty of red herrings, though shallow Haley won't appeal to every cozy fan. (June)