Dead by Any Other Name

Book excerpt: Hunting the Hudson River valley for cast-off treasures is usually low-stress for Janet Petrocelli, a former shrink who now owns a used-stuff shop. But her insatiable curiosity kicks in when she gets a call from Natasha Wolfson, a high-strung singer and songwriter. The girl is desperate to unload her funky jewelry for a little fast cash so she can move to Los Angeles—and escape some serious trouble. Hours after meeting with Janet, the tormented rising star allegedly leaps to her death. Suspecting foul play, Janet noses into Natasha’s life and gets drawn into an eccentric enclave ruled by the rich and infamous. From a hotbed of corruption at the New York State capital to an exotic pleasure house hidden deep in the Catskills, Janet’s obsession with the case leads her closer to the shocking truth.