Dead Head by Rosemary Harris

"So far I'd been excoriated for being a slut and pitied for being a dumpee who was all but stalking a former lover. If I didn't have such a positive self-image, I might have let those two calls discourage me."

~Page 139;

Title: Dead Head
Author: Rosemary Harris
ISBN: 9780312569945
Publisher: Minotaur Books/2010
Pages: 245

Paula Holliday, a gardening specialist in Springfield, Connecticut. But she has also earned some fame as an amateur sleuth. It is discovered that, Caroline Sturgis, a client/friend and a very cool mom, is a fugitive from law. She is really  Monica Jane Weithorn, who escaped from the prison, twenty years ago, where she had been jailed for drug charges. The tabloids in Springfield are having a field day, trashing Caroline. 

Paula has been thinking of going into business with Caroline when she is arrested. Caroline's husband, Grant wants Paula to find the person, who told on Caroline/Monica. Paula is not so keen.  But she finds about a stranger who had been to the Springfield a short while ago and must have recognized Caroline. Paula is determined to find out all about that stranger and how he knows Caroline.

And more she gets into it, more it gets murkier. And Sgt. Mike O'Malley, a Springfield cop does not like Paula to be all over the place. However, he is always there when she is in trouble. Now who is the victim? Caroline? Or the person who told on her? Or someone else? With the help of Lucy, her friend, Paula gets to the bottom, even though she too is attacked.

With tongue in cheek humour, a heroine who is not afraid of anything, her friends, Babe (of Paradise Diner) and Lucy, this is another engaging red from Rosemary Harris. I look forward to read all the books involving Paula Holliday., Dirty Business, both literally and figuratively.