Tracey Enright Claire Fontaine Crime Fighter: A Novel of Life and

Claire Fontaine Crime Fighter: A Novel of Life and Death and Shoes

Tracey Enright

Dunne, Jul 206, $23.95

ISBN: 0312319606

Her father arranged the job interview for Armani-suited Claire Fontaine with former LAPD homicide detective PI Henry Bennet. When she arrived at his sloppy private investigative office, he asks her if she a stripper sent by a pal for his birthday. She responds in kind saying he will see her naked only during an autopsy. She get the job that he insists is his office assistant while she claims to be his partner though she wishes he would get a makeover as he dresses as if he resides in a cesspool.

Henry's current case is to uncover the identity of the vicious slasher who sliced the throat of party animal Beth Valentine. Claire helps Henry investigate as she has access to the rich and famous as did who traveled in their circle. As the exquisite thirty years old Claire and the forty-something slob Henry make inquiries, they begin to uncover the ugly secrets of some wealthy individuals with one unknown culprit willing to kill and not over acceptable justification for homicide like a new pair of designer shoes.

This amusing private investigative tale avoids being an overly stretched one joke novel due to a solid whodunit that anchors the story line and fosters the physical and mental differences and misunderstanding re the relationship between Henry and Claire. While making inquiries, Claire assumes she is helping solve the case while Henry wonders how to keep her from hindering the investigation. Fans who enjoy a lighthearted mystery will want to read the battle between Payless and Prada.

Harriet Klausner