Kandel delivers on the promise of her first Cece Caruso mystery, I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason
(2004),
with this equally zany and engrossing riff on Southern California culture past and present. Secrets within secrets tantalize biographer Cece as she researches "Carolyn Keene," the pseudonym used by the unsung authors hired by the Stratemeyer Syndicate to write the Nancy Drew books. Invited to keynote the annual Nancy Drew fan convention in Palm Springs, Cece plans to weekend with girlfriends Lael and Bridget at the home of the biggest collector of Nancy memorabilia, Edgar Edwards. When Edwards turns up behind his Palm Springs house with a bullet in his forehead and his current boytoy disappears, the race is on for Cece to find the killer before she becomes the next victim. Cheerful Lael and conniving Bridget lend support, along with Cece's hot boyfriend, cop Peter Gambino. In addition to all the Nancy lore, Kandel weaves her knowledge of art into the puzzle and ties everything into a splendid bow. Readers will be anxious to know whose bio she'll tackle next. Agent, Sandra Dijkstra. (On sale May 24)
