The first case involves an insurance fraud -- Sophie Redmond is claiming to be paralyzed, but the insurance company does not think this is really the case. Billie catches Sophie running out of her house; unfortunately, the video camera catches her own voice and the ground, instead of Sophie. Billie is desperate -- she is a single mother with very little skills, but lots of education.

Both Billie and Emma are flabbergasted when Sophie wheels into their office to have them locate her missing teenage daughter. Her husband seems less than cooperative or even caring. Penny, her daughter, just disappeared with a boy in a bright yellow hearse. Little brother Wesley has some information but won’t share. Things are not what they seem at the Redmond’s house.

Billie sets out to find Penny, looking for guidance from crusty Emma, who is not prone to mentoring. She gets leads on the boy and goes from there. Meanwhile, Penny is having troubles herself. The story alternates between three feminine voices -- Penny, Billie and Emma. Penny is instrumental in finding the skeleton of a woman and child while on an outing with her friend Stephen, a Middle Ages enthusiast. This discovery has long-standing influences on the whole plot.

Penny has discovered what she thinks is her step-father philandering (but which turns out to be much worse). Billie meets lots of people in her search for Penny, discovering much information that is extremely important to prevent more murders. Stephen is murdered. The cause is not easily apparent and leads them all on some wild goose chases.

The deductions by Billie, and then Emma bonds the two women together. It is a solid beginning for new detectives -- Emma Howe and Billie August, Private Investigators. The two main characters are well drawn. Most of the other characters are well fleshed-out and are an interesting bunch. None of the events are superficial or unexpectedly unreal. Everything makes perfect sense; there is a real sense of closure for Penny and for Billie. Watch for the second installment of this mystery team.

--Kay Black