The Evil Deeds We Do

Lainie Davis Gardner is the desperate woman at the center of this impenetrable tangle of plots and seriously flawed characters from Levinson (Finders Keeper, Losers Weepers). Once a top-flight L.A. record producer, Lainie was indicted for unlawful business activities as a co-conspirator with her husband, Roy%E2%80%94who was then killed in front of their 15-year-old daughter, Sara, leaving the girl a mess. Now A.D.A. Harry Roman is after Lainie with new info, prodded by power broker Thom Newberry. Newberry puts pressure on her to get something from Leonard Volkman, a dangerous business associate who was responsible for Roy's indictment. Lainie jumps through lots of hoops, starting a record company with Volkman's help, as she tries to protect Sara and stay one step ahead of all the men trying to use her for their own ends. The surfeit of twists will leave readers scratching their heads. (Jan.)