"Murder in the elite crowd"

Nora's parents left the country to evade their taxes. Her sister Emma got the family art collection. Her other sister Libby got the furniture. Nora got the land and a property tax bill for two million dollars.

To help pay this tax bill, Nora has gotten a job as a society page columnist for a Philadelphia paper. She knows many of the city's elite and fits right in at the parties. Then at her first party , she finds the host -- a millionaire art collector and old family friend, Rory, -- murdered.

Detective Bloom suspects Peach, Rory's longtime companion. Nora is determined to find out who the real killer is. She doesn't think it can be Peach.

Michael Abruzzo, son of a rumored New Jersey crime boss, has bought 5 acres Nora sold off to help pay her taxes. He built a car lot. This land is adjacent to her family farm. Her younger sister Libby shows up with her four children to protest at his grand opening. Nora is there to cover it for the paper.

As Nora begins to investigate Rory's murder, Libby is nowhere to be found. Emma begins to help Nora, then she goes missing. Nora is disgusted with her flighty sisters. Michael, who is interested in Nora and lets her know, helps her look into the murder. He has friends that Nora isn't sure she wants to be acquainted with.

This is the first book I have read by this author, but I look forward to reading more in this series. I believe this is the first book. The second one is coming out in June 2003.

I hope Michael will be in all of the upcoming books. The relationship of Nora and Michael is interesting. I also look forward to getting to know her two sisters better as well. Nancy has developed good characters and a great setting. Her plot was also very well written. This looks to be a great series.

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle
Posted March 16, 2003

Summary

When Nora Blackbird's parents skipped town and left her with a property tax bill for two million, she found herself in dire need of a paycheck. So the former debutante finds work as the society page columnist for a Philly paper. She's happy to reclaim her place within the city's elite-until her first party assignment sends her stumbling...upon the murdered body of the host. Nora's sisters-sexy Emma and flaky Libby-complicate matters as Nora investigates. And meanwhile, the son of a rumored New Jersey crime boss is pursuing Nora with bone-melting come-ons she can barely resist.