Bye, Bye, Love

Sally Adler is My Kinda Gal This is my first "Mustang Sally" mystery, but it will not be my last. :) Imagine yourself as a child from the 60's-turned university professor and part-time musician. Imagine receiving a phone call from your favorite aging rock star. Imagine that rock star asking for your help in looking after his wife, an acquaintance of yours, because he's worried about her safety. After picking yourself up off the floor and getting your heart rate back to normal, you set about doing this favor for your "secret crush" and find yourself smack dab in the middle of two murder mysteries, a commune of some pretty radical tree-huggers and then you have to dodge bullets meant for you! Well, if you can imagine all of that, you'll enjoy Virginia Swift's book, BYE, BYE LOVE. I liked Sally, her hunky lover, Hawk, and all the characters that populate this story, set in Laramie, Wyoming. The only fault I found in the book was on page 232, where the author has Olivia de Havilland as the sister of Joan Crawford. It was Joan Fontaine that was Ms. de Havilland's sister, not Miss Crawford. I look forward to more from Ms. Swift. She's got a good voice and an unique terrain on which to spin tales. Enjoy!

Virginia Swift's novels just keep getting better and better. The plot, the characters,and the setting capture the imagination and the writing sings. If you are looking to keep yourself or someone else happy this holiday season--or any season--I highly recommend these books. I can't wait for the next one.

Popular pop star Nina Cruz moved from California to Wyoming where she intends to set up the Wild West Organization to support activities from animal rights to taking care of mother Earth. She intends to hold a concert to raise funds for the proposal and she persuades country superstar store Jones to perform along with many other performers who are household names. College Professor Sally Adler is thrilled when her idol Jones asks her to attend the opening act. One day when Nina hears gunshots in her woods even though there are signs stating no hunting, she runs into the forest hoping to catch the hunter. When Nina fails to come back people look for her and find her corpse with a bullet in it. Sally thinks it would be a nice testimonial if she writes a book about Nina's extraordinary life. On Halloween Eve, someone leave an envelope of white powder on Sally doorstep and though it isn't anthrax a big scare occurs. A second murder happens when one of the members of Sally's band is killed. It becomes obvious someone wants to stop Sally from gathering information about Nina but that doesn't stop Sally from looking for a killer. Readers get a taste of the individuals who make their position clear on social and political issues in a state where conformity is discouraged. Talented storyteller Virginia Swift provides readers into a compelling tale of love betrayed and the dark side of fame. The protagonist is an independent, charming and delightful person who tries to do what is right even when it places her in danger. BYE, BYE, LOVE is an electrifying and offbeat amateur sleuth tale. Harriet Klausner