Blood Orange

Santa Barbara, Calif., PI Jaymie Zarlin, who normally looks into missing persons cases, investigates her first major crime in Keskinen’s energetically lurid debut mystery. The initial suspect in the rape and murder of teen Lili Molina, who had a lead role in the city’s annual solstice parade, is “mentally disabled” Danny Armenta, who was found crouching near Lili’s body. In her efforts to prove Danny’s innocence, Jaymie finds a city choked with corruption and an immigrant underclass hopelessly caught in the warped machinations of the rich. Devious society matron Celeste Delaney is a prime example; she obscures darker motives with an artificial benevolence and plays the master of ceremonies for her narcissistic nephew, Sutton Frayne III, and his set of hedonistic, dissipated party-goers. Those looking for sensation will find it all: gore, sweeping conspiracy, Gossip Girl–style teenage decadence—even a wink to Fifty Shades of Grey in the form of Jaymie’s romp with the powerful and mysterious Zavier Carbonel. Agent: Becca Stumpf, Prospect Agency. (June)