Mortal Friends

What might be just another mystery-romance about the posh Washington set becomes an engrossing thriller. Reven (that's "never" spelled backwards) owns an antique shop and gossip-stop in the nation's capital. A serial killer called "The Beltway Basher" is murdering women and depositing their bodies in nearby parks, one where Reven and her old school chum, Violet, jog. Gunner, a mysterious and very sexy detective, believes the killer is the power-player Reven is dating. Jennifer Van Dyck's performance adds gloss to a polished story. She uses her sultry tones, whip-smart wisecracks, and spot-on pacing to keep listeners guessing. Well-drawn characters, lots of red herrings, a thrilling surprise ending, and Van Dyck's accomplished narration make this worthwhile entertainment. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

June 8, 2009
In bestseller Hitchcock's whirling and suspenseful comedy of manners, gauche, aggressive Cynthia Rinehart, a self-made millionairess, explodes onto the philanthropy scene and the grand dames of old money Washington collectively clutch their husbands. Meanwhile, the Beltway Basher, suspected to be a member of the D.C. elite, continues to bump off young brunettes. Reven Lynch, an unmarried antique-shop owner, is tapped to play society informant, perhaps because her love interest, notorious playboy (and the D.C. version of Sex and the City
's “Mr. Big”) Bob Poll, is also a person of interest in the case. Gossip, manipulation and infidelity all happen behind Washington's velvet curtain, and it's the stuff of high school, but with higher—nay,
deadlier—stakes. And among the backbiting, Hitchcock (Social Crimes
) manages to stew a convincing homicide plot, peppered with enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing, and guessing again, to the novel's neat finish.

May 15, 2009
Reven Lynch, antique-shop proprietor, may be a little down on her luck, but her position inD.C.s high society remains intact, thanks mainly to her longtime friendship with the reigning doyenne, Violet Bolton. Violet, a true-crime buff, and Reven are all atwitter about the serial killer dubbed the Beltway Basher, butafter a body is found near her precious Georgetown row house, Revens interest turns to fear. When Gunner, a special investigator, appears on her shop doorstep asking for help with the casethe killer may be linked to the society crowdReven is at first thrilled, but as the investigation mounts, she is shocked that people close to her might be involved. Hitchcock deploys the same sharp wit and cynical attitude toward high society that she exhibited in One Dangerous Lady (2002)and Social Crimes (2005), though those barbs were aimed at Manhattan socialites. Her D.C. characters are almost interchangeable with their Manhattan counterparts, but the new setting and circumstances are more than enough to compensate. Good, bitchyfun.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)