Savage Garden

A new play by a rising Mexican playwright is premiering, and Eve and her lover, Silvio Aguilar, are there — the writer is Silvio's friend from their barrio days. When the lead actress is a no-show, Eve quickly uncovers that Silvio has complicated past ties to the missing diva. But there is no time for hurt, betrayal, or suspicion — not when there are signs of a struggle at the actress's bungalow. To make matters worse, an eager young reporter, whom Eve is mentoring, keeps insinuating herself into the case at every turn, crossing ethical lines that could bring Eve down with her. . . or get them both killed.

A new play by a rising Mexican playwright is premiering, and Eve and her lover, Silvio Aguilar, are there — the writer is Silvio's friend from their barrio days. When the lead actress is a no-show, Eve quickly uncovers that Silvio has complicated past ties to the missing diva. But there is no time for hurt, betrayal, or suspicion — not when there are signs of a struggle at the actress's bungalow. To make matters worse, an eager young reporter, whom Eve is mentoring, keeps insinuating herself into the case at every turn, crossing ethical lines that could bring Eve down with her. . . or get them both killed.

Library Journal

In Edgar Award nominee Hamilton's (Last Lullaby) fourth Eve Diamond mystery, the Latina lead in a hit play is murdered, and the Los Angeles Times journalist grabs the story. However, Eve's boss is wary of her objectivity since the playwright and prime suspect is her lover's best friend. In addition, Eve has been tapped to mentor a hot new hire who seems bent on scooping Eve. With the newbie in tow, she traverses the freeways, from the barrios of East L.A. to the mansions of Malibu, in search of the young actress's story. Volatile personalities who might well have killed the leading lady emerge at every turn. Eve's relentless quest for justice and a great headline lead her into dark and dangerous territory, challenging her toughness, savvy, and personal relationships. Offering a noirish, 21st-century spin on Philip Marlowe's Los Angeles, Hamilton races the reader through its multicultural mean streets with a compelling plot, great location descriptions, and a central character who is edgy, smart, and credible. Highly recommended for most mystery collections. Hamilton lives in Los Angeles. [See Q&A with Hamilton at left.]-Susan Clifford Braun, Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Denise Hamilton is a writer-journalist whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Cosmopolitan, and The New York Times and is the author of five acclaimed Eve Diamond crime novels, Prisoner of Memory, Savage Garden, Last Lullaby, Sugar Skull, and The Jasmine Trade, all of which have been Los Angeles Times bestsellers. She is also the editor of and a contributor to the short story anthology Los Angeles Noir, winner of the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association Award for Best Mystery of 2007. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two young children. Visit her at www.denisehamilton.com.