While she and Walter are on the outs, Nanette picks up a fellow street musician and takes him home for the night, letting him sleep on her sofa. She's shocked to discover the next morning that he has been murdered. She's even more shocked when she learns that her sleep-over guest was an undercover cop.

Implicated in his death, Nanette reluctantly sets out to discover who killed him and why. Her search leads her through smoky jazz clubs, sleazy strip joints and into the bedroom of more than one man she meets along the way. Nan learns that being an amateur sleuth isn't easy, especially when you've got a tough cop determined to nail you for murder, not to mention a pair of murderous kidnappers on your tail. It's even harder when your heart is torn between two men; one who pays the rent and sees to your basic needs and one who stirs your desires and shows you the kind of passions you'd only dreamed of. Worse, either of these men could kill you at a moment's notice.

The best thing about Rhode Island Red is the character of Nanette Hayes. She is an engaging, no-nonsense and very sexy woman. Her deep, almost obsessive, love of jazz music and her unique outlook on life make her charming and likable. Her innate intelligence and quick wit result in some humorous moments. Nan's views on being an African-American woman in this day and age are also enlightening and informative, without being preachy or overwrought.

The secondary characters are just as intriguing and unique, especially Aubrey, Nan's best friend, a tough talking stripper and Justin Thom, a hard-nosed gangster who gives Nan some important information when she needs it most. Both characters are refreshing and non-stereotypical.

The writing is wonderful too. Snappy, fast-paced and edgy, the author draws the reader into a very vivid, atmospheric and realistic world. The details about jazz and the men and women who play it are educational and intriguing, dropped in at unobtrusive moments, adding to the richness of writing. I could almost hear the hot and cool riffs of a saxophone or smooth lyrics performed by a sultry jazz singer playing in the background as I read.

The problem with this mystery is well, the mystery. At times it's somewhat hard to believe, if not downright implausible. Many of the plot twists, while unexpected and surprising, simply make no sense. Furthermore, the author makes the unfortunate decision to introduce about five or six plot threads, then tries to tie them all together in the end. And while it's a valiant attempt, she winds up with an incoherent mess that stretches credulity. In fact, it got so confusing (to the reader and the characters) that Carter spends several pages simply explaining what happened and why – so it would all make sense. A few less characters and a few less storylines would have made for a tighter and certainly more riveting read.

Still, I would recommend Rhode Island Red, not for the plot and story, but for the wonderful, engaging people populating it. They are worth getting to know. It is because of them that I look forward to reading the further adventures of Nanette Hayes. I just hope her next adventures are better ones.

--Anthony D. Langford