A BEAUTIFUL CORPSE

A crime reporter who’s still obsessed with the long-ago murder of her mother faces more present-day murder.

One reason Harper McClain became a crime reporter for a Savannah newspaper was her excellent relationship with the police. That ended when she took down the man who was like a father to her, the former homicide chief who's now doing time for murder (The Echo Killing, 2018). As a result, most of the cops shun her and make her life miserable, and her romantic relationship with homicide detective Luke Walker has been shattered. A new murder case plunges Harper back into all the bad memories. Harper’s bestie, Bonnie Larson, works at the Library bar along with beautiful law student Naomi Scott, who leaves early on a quiet night. A call from Harper’s photographer, Miles Jackson, sends her racing to River Street, the heart of the tourist area, which has become a murder scene. She's devastated to see that the body is Naomi's. The police fasten on her boyfriend, Wilson Shepherd, but Naomi’s father insists on Wilson’s innocence. Detective Julie Daltrey, who’s caught the case, grudgingly gives Harper enough information to get her started on a story that could turn into a blockbuster. Meantime, Harper has other problems to spare. Someone’s gotten into her apartment despite all her security measures, and she constantly feels that she’s being followed. The case does get her back in touch with Luke, and the passion they shared flares again. The police, unable to develop enough evidence to hold Wilson, begin looking at Naomi’s boss and a fellow law student she dated and then began to fear. Although Harper worries about her stalker, she doesn’t see the danger coming from both past and present.

This first-rate adventure for Daugherty’s heroine is fast-paced, intriguing, and romantic. A message from her stalker intimates her next adventure will be just as exciting.