The worst comic in New York is dead, and Hilary wants to know who gave him the hookThe Sons of the Desert are serious about comedy, fond of cocktails, and utterly devoted to the films of Laurel and Hardy. Their meetings are always merry, boozy romps, but the laughter dies whenever Wayne Poe takes the stage. A comic with bad timing, bad material, and a mean streak, he's known for stealing jokes and getting nasty when they bomb—which is just about every time he steps ...

When a television writer takes a tumble, Hilary finds herself amidst the dramaPR whiz Hilary Quayle not only fired her assistant, Gene, she also broke up with him on the same day. And since the implosion of their office romance, Gene has been stuck in Philadelphia, consoling himself with Riverday, a soap opera most notable for its star's uncanny resemblance to his former boss. But one gray Pennsylvania day, he goes to the local shopping center, where his da...

Hilary takes on a pair of mysteries—one fictional, and one all too realIn college, Hilary Quayle dreamed of the stage, and playing all the great leading ladies that Shakespeare had to offer. But her interest was due less to the Bard than to another man: director, actor, and theatrical personality Michael Godwin. And though she got her wish, she found that acting onstage and romancing backstage did not add up to happiness. A decade past college, she's now a publicity...

While on vacation in DC, Marty must outwit kidnappers at a magicians' conventionMarty Gold deserves a vacation. For years he has toiled behind the pharmacy counter at Spector's, a Manhattan institution whose classic soda fountain makes it a magnet for every overstuffed rear end on the West Side. Among his most devoted customers is Mase O'Dwyer, a chunky young magician who treats Marty as a captive audience for hour upon hour of poorly executed magic tricks. When Ma...

In a famous Nashville family, a deadly feud is as much a tradition as country musicHilary Quayle has never done public relations for a country-western client, but Amanda Boulder's songwriting is beautiful, her voice is pure, and her career is in bad need of a good publicist. But there's one thing standing in the way of a great solo career: the rest of the Boulder family.The Boulders have been touring for eight decades, ever since old Pappy Boulder first pick...

The worst comic in New York is dead, and Hilary wants to know who gave him the hook.The Sons of the Desert are serious about comedy, fond of cocktails, and utterly devoted to the films of Laurel and Hardy. Their meetings are always merry, boozy romps, but the laughter dies whenever Wayne Poe takes the stage. A comic with bad timing, bad material, and a mean streak, he's known for stealing jokes and getting nasty when they bomb -- which is just about every time he s...

When a television writer takes a tumble, Hilary finds herself amidst the drama.PR whiz Hilary Quayle not only fired her assistant, Gene, she also broke up with him on the same day. And since the implosion of their office romance, Gene has been stuck in Philadelphia, consoling himself with Riverday, a soap opera most notable for its star's uncanny resemblance to his former boss. But one gray Pennsylvania day, he goes to the local shopping center, where his ...

When an allergic reaction results in death, a pharmacist takes the heat.Marty Gold has enough problems. Cockroaches, for one thing, and two parents who give him endless grief for moving away from home, for another. But at Spector's Drugs in Manhattan, he is a king. The prescriptions he fills save lives, and the milkshakes he prepares make those lives worth living. So as December approaches, Marty's biggest concern is surviving Thanksgiving dinner. He has no idea he...

When an allergic reaction results in death, a pharmacist takes the heatMarty Gold has enough problems. Cockroaches, for one thing, and two parents who give him endless grief for moving away from home, for another. But at Spector's Drugs in Manhattan, he is a king. The prescriptions he fills save lives, and the milkshakes he prepares make those lives worth living. So as December approaches, Marty's biggest concern is surviving Thanksgiving dinner. He has no idea he'...

New York's toughest PR woman takes on the city's deadliest business: toysHilary Quayle will do anything to get a client a bit of good press—no matter how late she has to stay out or how many martinis she has to knock back. But even though she is the best PR woman in Manhattan, she has a weakness: She has always wanted to be a detective. So when Trim-Tram Toys' hot new product is stolen and sold to a knock-off huckster named Sid Goetz, Hilary can't resist the case. A...

New York's toughest PR woman takes on the city's deadliest business: toys.Hilary Quayle will do anything to get a client a bit of good press -- no matter how late she has to stay out or how many martinis she has to knock back. But even though she is the best PR woman in Manhattan, she has a weakness: She has always wanted to be a detective. So when Trim-Tram Toys' hot new product is stolen and sold to a knock-off huckster named Sid Goetz, Hilary can't resist the ca...

Hilary takes on a pair of mysteries -- one fictional, and one all too real.In college, Hilary Quayle dreamed of the stage, and playing all the great leading ladies that Shakespeare had to offer. But her interest was due less to the Bard than to another man: director, actor, and theatrical personality Michael Godwin. And though she got her wish, she found that acting onstage and romancing backstage did not add up to happiness. A decade past college, she's now a publ...