Fans of Ellen Hart's Jane Lawless mysteries will not be disappointed in this latest outing. This time, the Minneapolis restaurateur and amateur sleuth is juggling many conflicting concerns. Her father's run for governor is endangered when the release of a convicted rapist he represented in court leads to what may be a repeat offense. Then there's the odd malfunction of his private plane. And the campaign's computers keep crashing.
Despite being on the verge of opening yet another restaurant, Jane jumps in, with her outrageous friend Cordelia, to discover the truth behind these mysteries.
Meanwhile, Jane's long-distance lover, Kenzie, is pressing for more of her time, and her old love, Julia, is determined to win her back. Passion may be the "sweet poison" behind all of the murder and manipulation, but Hart's many variations on the theme had this first-time reader referring back to the list of characters to follow all the plot twists.
KATHE CONNAIR
