by Susan Dunlap
First published 1985
Vejay Haskell reads meters for the utility company, but murder keeps interrupting her rounds. In a resort town where tourists come for relaxation, someone has committed the ultimate crime. The victim connects to something locals call the bohemian connection, a shadowy network that supplies drugs and prostitutes to those seeking illegal thrills. Vejay finds herself drawn into the investigation, trading her meter reader uniform for the role of amateur detective. She must identify who runs this underground operation before she can understand why someone died. The resort's peaceful facade hides dangerous secrets. Vejay navigates between legitimate businesses and criminal enterprises, following leads through a community where respectable citizens and lawbreakers often overlap. Her investigation reveals how money flows through both legal and illegal channels in a town dependent on keeping visitors happy. The case tests her ability to see past surface appearances and understand the true connections between people.
Genres: mystery, crime, contemporary, amateur-sleuth
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-detective, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Resort Town
Period: Contemporary
185 pages · Hardcover · St Martins Pr
Content warnings: drug-use