Nora is invited to a party at the Cooper family compound. Oliver Cooper, who made his fortune in airplanes, is about to nominated for the office of Secretary of Transportation. Nora was romantically involved with Flanders Cooper, one of the sons, when they were college-age. Oliver and his first wife are divorced, and he is now married to a trophy wife who doesn’t fit well into Philadelphia Main Line society. There are assorted moneyed guests at the party including an Atlantic City casino mogul whose name is frequently linked romantically with various women. Also in attendance is Jack Priestly, who’s there to smooth the waters on the way to Oliver’s confirmation hearing.

Flan makes a pass at Nora at the party. His wife Laura, who’s rumored to be a kleptomaniac, finds them together and throws a scene. Nora recognizes that Laura is obviously trying to model her appearance after her. Nora tries to assure her that she and Flan are not going to restart their relationship.

The morning after the party Laura’s body is found in the swimming pool. Police suspicions focus on Flan. Nora knows that Flan is often irresponsible, but she’s certain he could never commit murder. With Detective Bloom’s encouragement, Nora sets out to make inquiries within her social contacts and to clear Flan’s name.

This series has yet to hit its stride. Is it an amateur sleuth series? An indictment of Main Line Philadelphia society? A romantic search for Mr. Right? The Blackbird Sisters mystery title is somewhat misleading - Nora’s role is even more prominent in this second book than in the first and her sisters play minor parts.

Perhaps it’s a result of my plebeian roots, but few of the characters in this book are ones I’d care to meet. Apparently, rich society folk are thoroughly messed up as well as shallow, self-serving, and immoral. The most “normal” person in a story is the semi-hero who’s on the outs with his crime boss father - I’m not sure I’d want to meet him either for personal safety reasons. Nora is a nice enough person, but she’s got her own issues.

It’s hard to care very much about this story or these characters. There’s only one scene -when an attempt is made on Nora’s life - where the story takes on some serious emotion, and characters’ reactions seem more genuine.

Dead Girls Don’t Wear Diamonds is easy to read, but there’s little substance to it. Those readers who read the first book in the series may be curious about the second, but those unfamiliar with the main characters and their complicated histories may not find it of much interest.

--Lesley Dunlap