Rogue's Justice: A Michael Carolina Mystery

Briody, formerly a TV reporter and currently a lawyer, uses his expertise in both areas, plus a considerable talent for story, setting and character, to produce his second city-smart Michael Carolina mystery (after Rogue's Isles, 1995). Investigative reporter Carolina's city is Providence, R.I., where the public figures are nearly as funny as they are corrupt and dangerous. Carolina is sailing the South Seas when he gets word that Lilly Simmons, his partner (in love and reportage), has been nastily dispatched by a Providence city snowplow. He flies back to do some digging of his own, and discovers that not all the corrupt citizens are behind bars. Briody has the unique sounds of a working-class Rhode Island accent down pat, and with a few deft details brings to life a gallery of darkly comic characters. Arthur Goulet, who works for the coroner's office, is making a ""sangwidge"" when Carolina comes to quiz him about Lilly's death; he has to move a jar of specimens to get to the mayonnaise. With the likes of Mayor Joey Giovannetti, as coarse and as shrewd as they come, and ""Lazy"" Lenny Costa, a 400-pound snowplow driver who collects for loan sharks by sitting on bad debtors, Briody creates a terrific supporting cast for his protagonist. Carolina himself needs work, though, sailing through this enjoyable outing with a casual ease that's a little out of sync with his sharp-edged fellow characters. (Aug.)