82 Desire: A Skip Langdon

I read "Louisiana Hotshot" before I read "82 Desire" and I was pleasantly surprised to find the exotic poet/detective, Talba Wallis, introduced in this book. I can't agree with the other reviewers that this was not her best. I thought it was just as fast-paced, thought-provoking and intriguing as all of the other books in the Skip Langdon series. Like the other books, it kept me guessing until the end. If you love New Orleans and you love quirky, unique characters, then you'll ADORE this book. I promise you, you won't be disappointed!!!

New Orleans Police officer Skip Langdon is elated with being assigned to Homicide, working one of the districts. Her current assignment appears to be a simple missing person's case. Russell Fortier, an oil executive and husband to a Councilwoman has vanished. However, Skip is not alone on this investigation. Reporter Jane Storey smells a major story as how Russell could have skipped out of his marriage, been kidnapped, or even murdered. Talba Willis is also looking into the disappearance of Russell. The part-time private investigator's employer Gene Allred has been murdered and inadvertently Talba is the link between his death and Russell's disappearance as she once spied on the missing person for her deceased boss. All three women are on a collision course as they investigate a missing person and a connected murder. The latest Skip Langdon mystery, 82 DESIRE, is a brilliant New Orleans who-done-it because of the three interesting female protagonists! , who successfully blend several different sub-genres into one desirable book. Skip represents the police-procedural; Jane exemplifies the amateur female sleuth; and Talba denotes the private investigator. All three bring different aspects of New Orleans to life, turning Julie Smith's newest mystery into a wonderful reading experience.Harriet Klausner