by George Baxt
First published 1989
Dorothy Parker finds herself drawn into a deadly mystery that strikes at the heart of New York's glittering literary scene. The sharp-tongued writer and critic must navigate the treacherous social circles of 1920s Manhattan, where cocktail parties mask dangerous secrets and witty repartee conceals murderous intentions. As bodies begin to appear among her circle of theatrical and literary acquaintances, Parker discovers that her talent for cutting observations serves her well in detecting clues others miss. The investigation forces her to confront the darker impulses lurking beneath the sophisticated veneer of her world. Parker must use all her intelligence and famous wit to unmask a killer who moves freely among the very people she knows best, threatening to destroy the bohemian community that defines her life.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-detective, enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Manhattan, New York
Period: 1920s
320 pages · Paperback · Fontana Press