A Body to Die For

May 5, 2003
Bailey Weggins, the heroine of Cosmo
editor-in-chief White's bestselling debut, If Looks Could Kill
(2002), proves that her sleuthing ability was no fluke in this solid follow-up. Depressed by her nonexistent love life, Bailey, a freelance true-crime writer for Gloss
magazine, leaves Manhattan for some R&R at the Cedar Inn and Spa in Warren, Mass., owned and run by an old friend of her mother's. Her first night there, however, she stumbles on the corpse of one of the inn's female therapists—wrapped in silver Mylar paper. Anna Cole's murder, on top of the accidental death of a male client months earlier, could spell doom for the inn, unless Bailey can get to the bottom of things. Meanwhile, Jack Herlihy, the smooth shrink from her prior outing, surfaces with a plausible excuse for his earlier disappearing act, while "dashing" Jeffrey Beck, the local detective who's looking into Anna's murder, also attracts, despite his cool professional demeanor. Bailey bravely deals with threats (a dead mouse wrapped in Mylar in the mail), deftly pumps people for information (a scene with a local waitress is a gem) and comes to a startling conclusion after the murder of a second therapist just before the heart-stopping, heroine-in-peril climax. Though the glamorous New York magazine world has only a small role here, fans will find Bailey's sassy wit as engaging as ever and are sure to admire the skill with which White pulls together all the threads. Literary Guild, Doubleday Book Club and BOMC; Mystery Guild alternate. (June 2)Forecast:Expectations are running high for this sequel, after the hardcover of
If Looks Could Kill sold more than 150,000 copies. The major advertising/publicity/promotion campaign for this media-savvy author should ensure similar sales, though those looking for glitz may be disappointed to find less of it than before.

June 15, 2003
Bailey Weggins, the feisty, sexy, true-crime freelancer for Gloss magazine introduced in White's debut, If Looks Could Kill, is back. Asked by her friend, Danny, to check out some suspicious happenings at her posh inn and spa, Bailey agrees, hoping to squeeze in some pampered R&R as well. When she arrives, things are tense between Danny and her new husband, George, and the spa staff is edgy, due to the recent death of a local resident after a massage. Danny seems a bit vague about her suspicions and surprisingly clueless about the financial status of the inn. Bailey's first assignments are to check the books, meet the staff, and ultimately sniff out any scent of impropriety or financial mismanagement. Her journalist's eye reminds her that things are never what they appear, and Bailey soon finds that everyone at the spa has a dirty little secret. Once again, White's background as editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan shines through in her snappy dialog, tight plotting, and insider humor. She will certainly hold her own among the many talented mystery mavens. The next assignment for gutsy Ms. Weggins is, no doubt, just around the corner. A breezy beach read for mystery fans. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/03.]-Susan Clifford Braun, The Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2003
Bailey Weggins, the smart-mouthed true-crime writer for Gloss magazine, returns in a book equally as entertaining as its predecessor, " If Looks Could Kill " [BKL My 1 02]. Last time Manhattan was the backdrop for murder; now the scene shifts to the country, as Bailey tries to help an old friend figure out why the guests at her inn/spa are turning up murdered. And murdered in particularly nasty ways--the first is packaged like a leftover sandwich in the shiny mylar paper used for herbal wraps. White, editor-in-chief of " Cosmopolitan" , cleverly offers her readers a whole tray full of tasty red herrings to nibble on. Almost everyone in the story is a suspect, but the fun lies not only in trying to guess whodunit but also in watching Bailey evolve as a woman (with two sexy guys after her) and a detective, who follows where the case leads. Kelly Ripa, of Live with Regis and Kelly, chose Looks as her first book-club selection, so this follow-up is sure to have a ready-made audience. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)