Every Crooked Nanny

In this high-caliber debut, Trocheck introduces wry Everywoman J. Callahan Garrity, a former cop and failed gumshoe who now runs a cleaning service in Atlanta, Ga. While cleaning the home of snooty society lady Lilah Rose Beemish, Callahan is hired to trace Kristee, the family's Mormon nanny, who has absconded with furs, jewels and, Callahan learns, incriminating business secrets gleaned from Lilah's husband Bo during their affair. Callahan's investigation leads her to Kristee's zealous Mormon boyfriend, to a miffed lesbian who loved the missing woman and then to Kristee's body, stored in a fur vault with Lilah's black sable. Bo and Lilah seem increasingly likely suspects as Callahan digs up dirt about Bo's shady multimillion-dollar real estate deal, all the while operating her business and coping with the discovery of a lump in her breast. Down-to-earth and independent, Callahan is surrounded by equally vivid, captivating characters, including her nosy, chain-smoking mom and a gossipy, unreliable cleaning staff, who want in on Callahan's investigative action. A clever, colorful page-turner, not to be missed. (June)