by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the Without a Doubt, and a link to purchase it from Amazon.

While most people consider December to be the season of holidays and gift buying, for Hollywood it heralds the approach of awards’ season. This is when celebrities reward one another and are out on display, seeking out the most exclusive couture fashion and priceless accessories. That also means that some of the most valuable jewelry in the world will be out of secured locations and easily accessible to celebrities, actors, and…thieves. Keeping in line with KCHC Talk Radio’s new “chick-lite” policy featuring uplifting stories, reporter Carol Childs was in Beverly Hills promoting her station’s Chocolate Charity Challenge. She could never have predicted that she would see celebutante Carmen Montague being escorted out of a swanky jewelry store on the arm of Carol’s FBI agent boyfriend Eric Langdon, or that the exclusive showroom would explode.

Carol learns that the blast was only a distraction for the latest of a string of robberies targeting high-end Los Angeles boutiques, with the thieves’ modus operandi tracing back to Europe. While the radio station owner’s wife, Bunny Morganstern, would normally never encourage a crime story, the theft of millions of dollars’ worth of diamonds, and possible link to Elizabeth Taylor’s necklace, make it irresistible. The discovery that the Kardashian-esque Carmen was also acting as a courier for her wealthy Spanish soon-to-be-ex-husband only adds to the lurid appeal, as does her rivalry with her equally beautiful sisters.

Carol finds herself in the midst of an investigative journalism piece when additional robberies, international intrigue, and murder all intrude on her assignments covering the American Music Awards and other entertainment “news” stories. Her friend Shari, the daughter of a famous movie producer, enthusiastically assists in this exclusive world that takes readers to the restaurant where Robert Blake shot his wife, Los Angeles FBI offices, enormous Santa Monica estate, and Wolfgang Puck’s Nest. While this voyeuristic glimpse is undeniably entertaining, equally compelling is the elaborate investigation into a heist by a team of thieves planned by its infamous leader with a disturbing attachment to Carol.

What I so love about this series is being able to observe a professional journalist excel at her job. So reminiscent of the Britt Montero novels written by Pulitzer Prize willing reporter Edna Buchanan, these mysteries share the insider knowledge of an author with experience. Twenty-five years in radio journalism allows author Nancy Cole Silverman to create a character who uses her skills to work with investigators to develop her story. She also very realistically portrays the conflict a journalist faces when balancing a career with a personal life, especially when the two cross over into ethically questionable territory. This is a wonderfully compelling novel that succeeds in depicting the absurdity of celebrity lifestyles, the field of investigative journalism, and the business of talk radio. Witty dialogue, realistically flawed characters, and a talented and intelligent heroine guarantee that readers will adore this labyrinth of a mystery.

This book was published by Henery Press. To learn more about their books check out their website: henerypress.com.

To enter to win a copy of Without a Doubt, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “without,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen May 28, 2016. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

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Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).