Snake in Paradise

Nosy Oleta Parker seeks to prove the innocence of a boy accused of murder in Bakersfield while at the same time tracking down the cause of two apparently unrelated deaths occurring in Fresno and Three Rivers. Her attempts to tie the murders together cause her boyfriend, Detective Cantrell and his partner, the irascible Rojas, some indigestion and a great deal of indignation. However, despite threats of incarceration and dealings with a nasty sculptor, a smarmy realtor, a smug builder, a leering ranch boss, two victims of valley fever and the interference of her "Bakersfield Irregulars," Oleta emerges victorious in a surprising denouement.