Snapshot

May 3, 1993
In the ever-increasing crowd of admirable female PIs, Boston-based Carlotta Carlyle is a stand-out and not just for her red hair and 61 frame. Self-possessed and confident, she's also short-tempered, restless and skeptical. On a referral from a neighboring psychiatrist, Carlotta is hired by Emily Woodrow, a distraught surburbanite whose seven-year-old daughter has recently died of leukemia at a local hospital. Emily suspects her daughter's death may not have been inevitable, but she disappears before sending Carlotta some promised evidence. At the same time, 11-year-old Paolina, Carlotta's Colombian ``sister'' in the Big Sisters Organization, begins to hang around with a thug in his mid-20s. Following a twisted trail, accompanied by an abundance of quirky, recognizable characters, Carlotta takes on the hospital's smugly authoritarian medical staff, uncovering a decidedly un-Hippocratic scheme, and tries to prevent Paolina from leaving the country to search for her drug-baron father. Barnes ( Coyote ; Steel Guitar ) adroitly connects the two plot lines in a nifty final turn. BOMC featured alternate; QPB selection; author tour.

Carlotta Carlyle is an appealing detective. She's an ex-cop, sometimes cab driver and has distinct physical presence--6'1" and red hair. With her Boston locale, she has a considerable regional following. Carlotta's current challenge involves hospital politics and counterfeit drugs. Kate Nelligan gives Carlotta a no-nonsense voice with deep resonance. She employs a nice range of character voices from the softness of Paolina, Carlotta's eleven-year-old Little Sister to tough Sam Gianelli, sometimes lover and cab company owner, bringing each alive. The story moves quickly and compels the listener to stay right with the action. R.F.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

November 15, 1994
Boston private investigator Carlotta Carlyle receives a picture of a baby in the mail with no message or return address. She starts to receive pictures every week, each batch showing the child about a year older than the previous ones. One day, a wealthy but disturbed woman appears at Carlotta's door in the company of a psychiatrist. It seems the woman's daughter-the subject of the mysterious pictures-died of leukemia, but the woman thinks she died because of foul play on the hospital's part. Carlotta is skeptical but agrees to investigate. With this, an intriguing, attention-holding story takes off. Before Barnes (Steel Guitar, Audio Reviews, LJ 4/1/93) is done, all the pieces fall into place, but with enough unexpected turns to keep the listener guessing until the last chapters. Reader C.J. Critt carries the listener along smoothly from start to finish. This will be a popular addition for mystery fans as well as general listeners. An excellent choice for most collections.-Nancy Paul, Brandon P.L., Wis.

Copyright 1994 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.