Sure, New Orleans is known for corruption, but suddenly the good guys get a break—an honest police chief. And then someone guns him down. When a terrifying organization called The Jury takes out the cop-killer, Detective Skip Langdon’s on the case. But no one cares! After all, the guy was a cop-killer.Skip cares really a lot—because she suspects The Jury’s the brainchild of her old nemesis, … nemesis, self-described preacher Errol Jacomine. And because other lives are at stake—those of Jacomine’s granddaughter Lovelace and his younger son Isaac. Eager to add Lovelace to his maniacal fold, Jacomine has Lovelace kidnapped, but she escapes and flees to the bohemian home of her Uncle Isaac, an artist and true eccentric known as The White Monk. Isaac’s taken a vow of silence, but uncle and niece manage to communicate and form a bond that could save both their lives. And Langdon comes up with a plan so clever even the FBI can’t shout her down.
”A superbly written piece of drama, even by Smith’s high standards … plenty of subplots to keep things moving…(and) a wonderful description of the city’s bizarre Easter parades” –The State (Columbia, SC)
“Serious suspense… Smith’s colorful characterizations and the showdown with Jacomine make this an excellent addition to the series.” –Publishers Weekly
“If it’s gritty realism you’re craving, gently simmered with spicy suspense and marvelously memorable characters, Smith is the perfect New Orleans tour guide.” —The Clarion-Ledger
For fans of twisty, psychologically astute, heavily atmospheric stories by authors like Nevada Barr, Laura Lippmann, Ace Atkins, and Randy Wayne White.
”Sizzles with action … the most memorable of the series.” The Monterey Herald
”… characteristically Smith, full of surprises.”The Santa Barbara News-Press
A POWERFUL TALE OF JUSTICE GONE AWRY … SPICY SUSPENSE, DELICIOUS SURPRISES, AND GRITTY REALISM
Crescent City Connection (formerly Crescent City Kill) is the SEVENTH book in the Edgar Award-winning Skip Langdon series by Julie Smith
Excerpt:
When she visited the first time, Aunt Alice had talked candidly about a relative she thought was dangerous, though everyone else in the family had decided to find him amusing—Earl Jackson, aka Errol Jacomine.
Skip came and sat down. She was presented with a writing pad—Aunt Alice could talk to you, but you had to write to her.
“Did you get my letter?”
Skip nodded. She wrote, “Thank you. That was sweet of you.”
Skip’s encounter with Jacomine was national news. Aunt Alice had written to say she knew Skip was just doing her job even though Earl Jackson was a blood relative, and she, for one, not only applauded, she was real sorry the bastard got away.
“It’s good to see you again, honey. What can I do for you this time?”
“I know it’s stupid to ask,” Skip wrote, “but has Jacomine been in touch with anyone in the family?”
“Now, honey, you know I would have let you know.”
“Just thought I’d ask,” she wrote, and pulled out a list of the things she’d already done to trace Jacomine: looked for his wife, looked for his son, badgered the Christian Community. “Can you think of anything else I could do?”
Aunt Alice’s index finger, under a layer of ladylike pink nail polish, flicked at the list. “Didn’t even know he’d married again.”
Skip’s stomach flipped over. Blood pounded in her ears: this was something. She wrote, “Again? You mean this wasn’t his first marriage?”
“Oh, lordy, lordy. How would you know? Yes, ma’am, he was married, and thereby hangs a tale. Now where’d I put that thing?” She got up and left the room. Skip wanted to chase her, grabbing at the flapping folds of her purple windsuit.
But there was nothing to do but wait, drumming her fingers,
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I love this series Great characters!
Her usual tight writing and interesting twiists
Hard to follow.
I love this series by Julie Smith. It’s a great window on New Orleans, and her characters are both lovable and quirky.
I have read all Julie Smith’s books. Love her characters as well as unique plots.
This book is excellent as are all the books in this series. It was intense at times. The characters seem bigger than life but are fun to read about. I hope to read more of these books.
Have read everything in this series up to here. I’m not reading anymore. The more I read, the more I dislike Skip and the more unbelievable the story and characters become. Skip has been after the same bad guy for the past seven books and he always manages to just slip away. Evidently, this man is a one person terrorist group and Skip is the …
Again, this book keeps you interested. Love this author.
Great read!
Read straight through without regard to lack of sleep
The characters have a sense of humor
Wish there were more.
I love books about the state of Louisiana and this author is a good read and you learn a lot through these books
Anything that takes place in New Orleans is great to me. And I really like the detective character and her life. Good story, also.
I really couldn’t get into this book and gave it up before finishing.
I love Julie Smith and I love her Skip Langton character. She is the bomb! (Both of them!!) Ms Smith really knows how to direct your attentions and hold on. She has a gift that few compare with when it comes to writing. If you’ve read one book by Julie Smith and are into murder, mystery and mayhem than you’ll be scouring Amazon, BookBub, …
Julie Smith’s Skip Langdon is a thoroughly engaging character, and Smith tells a good story. Fun, light reading.
Good story. Well written. Sex scenes with Doris’s were totally unnecessary to the plot and added nothing to the story.
Great story up until the end which I thought was a little contrived and abrupt.
While thus book had me a little confused chasing everyone down Skip is like a dog with a bone and I’m glad she is. Loved this book. An9their great Skip Langdon!