Business for Casey and her partner is slow, so she readily agrees to be a bodyguard for Thomas Nash, a businessman and scientist in the tobacco industry. Nash has had numerous anonymous death threats both before and after he dropped a harassment suit against his fiancée’s father, the very wealthy and powerful tobacco magnate, Randolph Talbot. Unfortunately, Nash’s house is torched, and he is murdered after Casey’s first day on the job. She takes his death personally and keeps the case simmering on the back burner.

Leslie Talbot hires Casey because she is afraid her rich and ruthless father may have had something to do with her fiancé’s death, and she needs to know the truth. When Leslie begins receiving threatening phone calls, Casey sticks to her like glue and enters the glitzy world of North Carolina’s high society. Having grown up in extreme poverty, Casey has a few issues of her own to deal with, but advice from a friend to be herself pays off.

Many of the characters in the book are eccentric, unusual, and entertaining. Katy Munger has written two previous Casey Jones mysteries, but this book stands well alone and is thoroughly enjoyable. After reading a plethora of mysteries starring helpless heroines without a clue as to who-done-it until the very end, this book is their antithesis and a true winner.

Outwardly, Casey is tough, cynical, and flippant, but her strong sense of fairness, and high personal ethics shine through. Her non-stop wisecracks and hardball outlook on life combine with her generous nature, adding just the right touch of sensitivity without being in anyway mushy. Her unique sense of humor holds some painful truths and makes fun of human folly, but her outlook on life is invigorating, brave, and sincere.

It is interesting to see how Ms. Munger handles the controversial tobacco issue, managing to avoid significantly offending either side. Her strongest judgement towards the industry’s culpability is in not educating young smokers of its dangers. She leaves grown-ups to make their own decisions. She also manages to portray the fine line between extreme poverty and great wealth with both pathos and humor. I give high praise to Ms. Munger for her introduction of the new man in Casey’s life and creating some of the most discerning, genuine, disconcerting, and romantic scenes.

The book’s strength is equally divided between the lively and sometimes eccentric characters and the excellently choreographed plot. The humor is just the right balance of realism and zaniness, and is neither silly nor full of moral lesson. I’m especially looking forward to reading Ms. Munger’s next book.

--Monica Pope