5 Bodies to Die For

Starred review from May 1, 2009
Carlotta Wren, Neiman Marcus sales associate by day and a body moveramateur sleuth by night, is in desperate need of a safe haven. Shes been stalked by a serial killer, pushed off a balcony, and had her car blown up. Now shes linked to the so-called Charmed Killer, who places a bracelet charm in the mouths of his victims. Carlotta cant rely on her brother, Wesley, an Oxy addict, for help, and her parents deserted them years ago. So, against her better judgment, Carlotta moves into the supposedly secure mansion of her high-school boyfriend, wealthy Peter Ashford, who still carries a flame for her. Things have gotten so dangerous, her current love, police detective Jack Terry, actually agrees to this arrangement. Bonds latest mystery brims with suspense while also offering a liberal peppering of wickedly funny dialogue and situations as well as a Persian cat whose goal in life is to make Carlotta miserable. This standout is part of a terrific series librarians will want to have in full, from Body Movers (2006) to 2 Bodies for the Price of 1 (2007), 3 Men and a Body (2008), and 4 Bodies and a Funeral (2009).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)