The Perfect Socialite in Pacific Heights

Book excerpt: The Perfect Socialite in Pacific Heights 1976 is the second novel in the Hill Series trilogy, with the first being The Perfect Tenant in Nob Hill. Cassandra Nelson and Captain Daniel Fritz attend a swanky soiree in a Pacific Heights mansion of a local politician, only to discover later that a murder occurred during the course of the party. Dan is the lead detective on the case. Several more husbands are murdered at Pacific Heights parties with their wedding bands missing, prompting the police to announce that it is the work of a serial killer. The police are baffled as to how the killer gets in and out of parties without detection, so they begin to conduct stakeouts, undercover, and sting operations in Pacific Heights. Wives in Pacific Heights are up in arms and fearful of losing their husbands to the Wedding Band Killer. Meanwhile, amateur sleuth Cassandra assists her fianc, Dan, with undercover operations but suddenly begins to be taunted herself in uncanny ways. She also becomes the target in a company affirmative action grievance for getting an advanced position that she has to defend on her own, even getting accosted at work by activists. A femme fatale is arrested as the Wedding Band Killer with evidence of trophies. Despite this arrest, Cassandra continues to be tormented and ultimately attacked. Has the real Wedding Band Killer been adjudicated, or will Cassandras intuitions thrust her into a kill-or-be-killed challenge?