Wicked Craving: A Savannah Reid Mystery

When Maria Wellman, the unpopular wife of philandering diet guru Dr. Robert Wellman, is found dead on the beach below the couple's cliff-top estate, Savannah Reid investigates in McKevett's solid 15th mystery to feature the voluptuous San Carmelita, Calif., PI (after 2009's A Body to Die For ). Granny Reid, who flies in for a vacation, distracts Savannah from her sleuthing, but she also provides major help (and biscuits!) after Savannah and her policeman beau, Sgt. Dirk Coulter, uncover a big secret about the Wellmans. Suspects include battered wife Lydia Mahoney, whose husband was blackmailing Robert, and Karen Burns, a single mom pregnant with Robert's baby whose mother runs a nightmarish day-care center. Though Savannah's wit about food and healthy weight continues to sparkle, the “will they or won't they?” banter between Dirk and Savannah is getting a little tired. Hopefully, McKevett (the pseudonym of Sonja Massie) will let the two fully connect soon. (Feb.)