Death Comes Staccato

Classical music and illicit drugs provide the backdrop for this nicely detailed British mystery. Private investigator Kate Baeier is hired by wealthy Marion Weatherby to identify a man who has been attending her daughter Alicia's concerts; the talented violinist has been disconcerted by the stranger's obtrusive presence. He turns out to be music impresario James Morgan, who expresses a strong interest in helping Alicia's career. After Alicia and Morgan meet, however, the latter is found dead at the foot of a flight of stairs, and Alicia holds herself responsible. Kate has her doubts about Alicia's guilt and moves to protect herresulting in a situation in which Kate herself is arrested for the murder and treated in a highly dubious manner by the police. Once out on bail, Kate finds that Mrs. Weatherby is linked to another case she is investigating, this one involving illegal construction and a fatal fire. And the fast young crowd Alicia moves with seems to be heavily involved in the drug scene. Slovo ( Death by Analysis ) does a nice job of portraying the private and professional lives of a believable female private eye. ( October )