by Julie Smith
First published 1999
Detective Skip Langdon works the crowded streets of New Orleans during Carnival season when violence erupts amid the celebration. A death during the festivities pulls her into the city's complex social fabric, where old money families guard their secrets and newcomers struggle to find their place. Langdon navigates the tension between the public face of Mardi Gras revelry and the private grievances that simmer beneath the surface. She must untangle relationships that span generations while the clock ticks toward the end of Carnival. The case forces her to confront how tragedy and celebration intertwine in a city where the past never truly dies. Langdon discovers that solving the crime means understanding the deep currents that flow through New Orleans society, currents that can both nurture and destroy.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, small-town
Setting: New Orleans
Period: Carnival Season
10 pages · Audio Cassette · Recorded Books