SHE NEEDS A KID TO CATCH A KILLER…BUT HOW TO CATCH THE KID? “Julie Smith writes like jazz should sound—cool, complex, and penetrating right to the heart.” -Val McDermid, best-selling author of the Tony Hill seriesThe TENTH installment of the Skip Langdon series is a New Orleans feast for the senses, a canine love story, an action-packed police procedural made-to-order for readers who like their … procedural made-to-order for readers who like their female sleuths bold, smart, and refreshingly human. A serial killer is using Airbnb units to stage his murders, but a teenage runaway has escaped his grasp and now she’s in the wind, believing she’s killed him. Meanwhile the real killer stalks the city – and her.
Cody, the pink-haired sixteen-year-old, should be in school or at the mall texting her friends, not hanging out at the intersection of serial murder and human trafficking. When the options are: (1) Return to a life of slavery (2) Go to jail for murder (3) Be killed by a serial killer, Option 4 makes perfect sense – RUN! As mean as the streets of The City That Care Forgot can be, this child attracts angels (often unlikely ones) – and entire packs of dogs – who come to her aid.
She also finds a friend in NOPD’s newest Sergeant – big (six-foot!), beautiful, tough, and tender-hearted Skip Langdon. Skip knows her best hope of finding the killer is to find Cody – plus she feels for the girl, in whom she recognizes a younger version of her plucky, resourceful, whip-smart self. The city’s hard-boiled; the detective has a heart the size of the Superdome.
Longtime Skip Langdon fans who’ve thirsted for #10 will be delighted to hear the music of New Orleans in Smith’s prose. Fans of female-sleuth authors like Sue Grafton, Marcia Muller, and Linda Barnes, will love Skip Langdon’s pluck and charm. And those who particularly favor female cop stories, especially those by Nevada Barr, Lisa Gardner, Tana French, J.D. Robb, Karin Slaughter, Tess Gerritsen, and Anne Hillerman will find a new fave here.
“If you haven’t discovered Smith yet, now is the time to do so… Move over, Sara Paretsky.” –KPFA-FM (Berkeley, CA)
“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 (Jackson, MS)
“BRILLIANT.” –San Francisco Examiner & Chroniclemore
I’m so glad she brought back Skip!!!
Too many offensive words
Good book.
I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I did the earlier books in the series. It just felt off. I enjoyed it however and I recommend it.
I love New Orleans and this book and series captures the feel of the city. Characters are well developed and plot moves well. Fun to read.
Always a good storyteller
Slow starter, but then I got into it
I love this series. I have read them all and recommend them to everyone,
Kept me on the edge throughout. It’s easy to become invested in the characters, and the book is informative and heartbreaking about sex trafficking. A good plot and quite a surprising turn as to whom the serial killer actually is.
Another great Julie Smith mystery in the Skip Langton series. The characters are drawn so you love them or hate them, but never just don’t care about them. I highly recommend this entire series. They are not perky or silly. They can be a little bit noir, sort of like life. Enjoy!
I enjoyed this book! I liked the characters and felt a connection to them. I also thought the plot was good. Overall it was a fun read.
I’ve read most of Julie Smith’s Skip Langdon series and I think this is her best. See New Orleans in its contemporary facade: old crimes, new twists. Bad guys taking advantage of people just wanting to make a few bucks – and using the Internet as their partner in crime. Well developed characters, both lovable and despicable, and some surprising twists.
I just love the Skip Landon books. Each character is well imagined and easy to keep track of. New Orleans is a character in and of itself. Fun to read,
I loved it, so glad Skip is back. I enjoyed the series so much and was disappointed when it ended. I like Talba too. Would be nice to see her again too.
Skip Langston is a great character. Love reading about her capers in New Orleans. I find the city to be so interesting and try to follow her as she goes around the city in my memories of the area.
Skip is back and still amazing!!
Read ALL of jukie smith books. Especially like setting in Louisiana
So happy Julie Smith returned Skip Langdon to her readers. Skip is one of my favorite characters!
My daughter lives in New Orleans on St. Andrew Street, right near Magazine, and Julie Smith really captures the spirit of the city, and the area. I love Skip Langdon, and her life is ever changing, but she’s always great. And so are the books about her.