Dead in the Frame: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery

If you’re a fan of snappy dialogue, gutsy heroines, and 1940s New York, the Pentecost and Parker mystery series is just the ticket for you. Will Parker doggedly works to free her boss, Lillian Pentecost, from the notorious House of D (D for detention), where she awaits trial. The murdered man was odious, a collector of violence and other people’s pain, and had publicly declared his intention to ruin Ms. P’s vaunted reputation as a detective. But she couldn’t have been the one who pulled the trigger—could she? When Will isn’t running up against dead ends, barely restraining herself from decking obstinate witnesses, and making smart-aleck remarks, we are treated to Ms. P’s jailhouse journal as she struggles to keep her fear in check. A colorful cast of characters blends well with thoughtful insights on the price of cruelty and revenge that seem particularly apt in these times—another whip-smart entry in the Pentecost and Parker series. Reading the five books in order gives an extra pay-off, but you can dive right in with this newest one.