Blues in the Night

In this tense, fast-moving crime novel from Nero Wolfe Award–winner Lochte (Sleeping Dog), ex-con Dave “Mace” Mason returns to Los Angeles to do a favor for an old friend, mobster Paulie Lacotta. Since Lacotta is reluctant to explain why he wants Mace to shadow his ex-girlfriend, beautiful Angela Lowell, Mace turns for help to club owner Abe Garfein, who knows the L.A. scene. When pressed, Lacotta reveals that Angela may have screwed up a big deal and could be romantically involved with rival crook Tiny Daniels. Things heat up after someone tries to kill Lacotta, and Mace walks in on a bloodbath at Daniels’s beach house. Mace plays his cards close to the vest as he tries to figure out just what Angela’s role is in the deadly game Lacotta has gotten mixed up in. Tough, independent Mace is a wild card and one that Lochte should play again. Agent: Mel Berger, William Morris. (Mar.)