A Grave Mistake

A trail of murder wends its way from New Orleans to nearby Toussaint, La., in bestseller Cameron's steamy novel of romantic suspense. Beautiful Jilly Gable finds herself turning for help to Guy Gautreaux, a New Orleans homicide cop on a leave of absence, after a murder at her bakery shop brings Guy's former homicide partner to Toussaint to warn his old buddy of danger. The author pulls out all the gothic stops, from the foreboding house to the estranged family. Stock characters include a woman held virtual prisoner, a rich and powerful man accustomed to buying whatever or whomever he wants, a flamboyant healer and a sympathetic priest. Throughout, the focus remains on the will-they-won't-they romance between Jilly and Guy, a relationship fueled by passion and frustrated by constant misunderstandings. Cameron (Kiss Them Goodbye ) handles the sex scenes better than she does the plotting or police work, and her cliché-ridden prose may put off the unsuspecting, but fans should be satisfied. Agent, Damaris Rowland at Rowland & Axelrod. (Nov.)