G.A. McKevett, Fat Free and Fatal

Fat Free and Fatal

G.A. McKevett

Kensington, May 2007, $22.00, 304 pp.

ISBN 0758215509

San Carmelita private detective Savannah Reid is going to work as a bodyguard for famous actress Dona Papalardo who is on the comeback trail. She disappeared after gaining weight, had gastric bypass surgery, and had all the details of her ordeal exposed to people who read tabloids. She feels alone except for her assistant and friend Kimberly Dylan. One night Kimberly is going out wearing Dona's clothes and getting into her limousine when a shot rings out and kills her in Dona's arms.

Detective Sargent Dirk Coulter talks Dona into hiring a bodyguard because he thinks the killer was trying to kill her. Savannah comes to live in Dona's mansion and when she isn't on duty as a bodyguard, she is helping Dirk look for the killer. What they find out is that Kim and Jack the gardener were using aliases that are in another state for fraud and larceny. Although they are not the killer but the murderer's victims, she knows they had an ulterior motive for working for Dona. They must find the killer but it is a piece of clothing that breaks the case open.

FAT FREE AND FATAL is an exciting crime caper that shows off G.A. McKevett's incredible storytelling ability. The heroine is a swell female who doesn't care that she is not society's ideal definition of a woman. Instead she is a strong independent woman who doesn't let herself be pushed around and thinks enough of her abilities that she does an investigation her way. There is plenty of action but the heart of this tale lies with Savannah and the support cast, who make her look like an Amazon warrior doing battle.

Harriet Klausner