WAGES OF SIN

This splendid novel set in Jazz Age New Orleans is riveting. Detective Rourke confronts the death of a crucified priest in just one of several sad and unsavory mysteries he must unravel. His assistants are not only his fellow police officers but also street people, members of the priv-ileged class, and church officials. The action is accompanied by Rourke's relationship with a movie goddess and her entourage. Barrett Whitener does each of these diverse and extraordinary characters justice. Every accent, including Creole, immigrant, and black, is splendid, adding wonderful spice to Williamson's literary gumbo. S.G.B. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 03]