The Detective & the Pipe Girl

Near the start of Craven’s suspenseful, well-plotted neo-noir set in L.A., Arthur Vonz, “one of the top film directors in the world,” hires PI John Darvelle to track down his former mistress, Suzanne Neal—a beautiful actress whom he met on a movie set (she was working as an extra at the time). Vonz, who hasn’t heard from Suzanne in a while, wants Darvelle to deliver a letter to her, but knows only that she lives in Santa Monica. In the course of looking for Suzanne, Darvelle uncovers a sophisticated prostitution operation that involves the “pipe girls” of the title: hookers for wealthy, prominent people who can neither afford nor tolerate indiscretion. The trail leads Darvelle to a high-powered actor, a former mobster, a deadly-serious pimp, and a clever insight into the meaning of a tattoo. Craven (Body Copy) knows contemporary L.A. well, and writes about it with conviction. Readers will want to see more of Darvelle—a quirky, thoughtful detective with a wry sense of humor and a philosophical bent. Though serious about his work, he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Agent: Erica Spellman-Silverman, Trident Media Group. (June)