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WHODUNIT IN NEW ORLEANS
Walk down some mysterious Crescent City streets.

The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke (Pocket Books, mass market, $6.99)
This is the first in the Dave Robicheaux series. Robicheaux, a New Orleans cop, has fought too many battles: in Vietnam, with killers and hustlers, with police brass, and the bottle. Lost without his wife's love, his haunted soul mirrors the intensity and dusky mystery of New Orleans French Quarter--the place he calls home, and the place that nearly destroys him when he becomes involved in the case of a young prostitute whose body is found in a bayou.

"Burke writes the kind of crime/suspense novels other writers wish they could write. "
--Cleveland Plain Dealer

Visit Burke's official website: www.jamesleeburke.com/

New Orleans Mourning by Julie Smith (Fawcett, mass market, $6.50)
This first book in the series about policewoman Skip Langdon. When a costumed sniper kills the king of Mardi Gras krewe Rex, Skip must investigate the tangled clues and ancient secrets that culminate in danger.

"This story takes place in the hidden heart of New Orleans, a separate, special world, at once sad and touching. Smith is a gifted writer and she tells her story on many levels, through many dimensions. This is hardly "just a mystery story."  --The Washington Post Book World

www.juliesmithauthor.com/

Liquor by Poppy Z. Brite (Three Rivers Press, paperback, $13.95)
New Orleans natives Rickey and G-man are line cooks looking to move up in the world. They're sure their new restaurant, Liquor, will be an instant success, but a series of run-ins with some nasty characters threatens to turn their dream into a waking nightmare.

"Liquor is world-class satire and perfect New Orleans lit." --Andrei Codrescu

www.poppyzbrite.com

Fat White Vampire Blues by Andrew Fox (Ballantine, paperback, $13.95)
Although he's felt at home in New Orleans for over a century, Jules Duchon is an unhappy vampire. He's overweight, lonely, and struggling to keep up with the challenges of immortality. When a new vampire comes to town and burns down Jules' house as a warning, our protagonist must concentrate all his energy on staying undead--not an easy task for a hungry vampire living amongst some of the most well-fed people in the world.

"After two decades of reviewing books for Fangoria, I donÕt recall being as surprised and delighted as I was with Fat White Vampire Blues. Andrew FoxÕs hero is the anti-Lestat we didnÕt even know we needed. This is the best thing to happen to vampire fiction in ages." --Linda Marotta, Fangoria Magazine

www.andrewfoxbooks.com/andrewfox.htm