Book description
Charley Van Leeuwen can tell by a man's kiss whether he's been drinking
Taittinger or Veuve Clicquot. Not that she kisses many men, a fact her
friends deplore. So imagine their surprise when she comes home to San
Francisco with her new husband, Jack. Jack Fairfax is the definition of
tall, dark, and handsome. But is he the mild-mannered meteorologist he
claims to be? Sometime between finding a dead body in her bathtub,
tagging along on a ransom drop, and getting rescued by her husband in a
hail of bullets, Charley begins to believe there's more to Jack's past
than he's willing-or able-to admit. So, here's Charley, used to her
money as a cushion, forced to protect her family and friends and rescue
her non-profit repertory theater from artistic and financial ruin. If
that means dealing with kidnappings, murders, bitter ex-boyfriends,
out-of-control relatives, and vicious former spies-all while staging a
play-well, nobody ever said marriage would be easy.... Charley Van
Leeuwen is a 30-something woman of considerable financial means who
enjoys independence and life's finer things. Narrating the story in a
wryly humorous voice, she explains that though her money cushions her
from most of life's bumps, she does work hard, managing (and largely
financing) an independent repertory theater company in San Francisco. A
year before she had sold her flat, left her beloved Rep in the hands of
associates, and gone to England to study theater. While away, with
uncharacteristic impulsiveness, she acquired a husband after knowing him
only six weeks. Jack is a handsome meteorologist just retiring from the
U. S. Navy (but why was he stationed in the desert?) and, as the story
begins, she is bringing him home with her. They plan to stay in a
luxurious hotel until they can find a place to live, but as soon as they
get there, a dead body turns up in the bathtub. As Charley struggles to
keep her unstable company together, put on a new show, dodge
embarrassing questions from friends and family members about her sudden
marriage and mysterious husband, and deal with the occasional
kidnapping, she tries to figure out what's going on. With its San
Francisco setting; theatrical background; hint of espionage; a witty,
sophisticated hero and heroine who thoroughly enjoy one anothers
company; and brisk pace, this humorous if unlikely tale will entertain
readers who like a light mystery with an urban attitude. Margaret
Dumas holds a Master's Degree in English Literature, which led her
unsuspectingly into a career as a technical writer and computer software
executive. Her first novel, Speak Now, was short-listed for the 2003 CWA
Debut Dagger award. Dumas lives in the Bay Area, where she splits her
time between working on her next novel and searching for the perfect
cocktail.
