The Smart Money

Murder halts a high-profile lawyer's revenge against her ex-husband in this series opener by the author of the Willa Jansson Mysteries.

Many years ago, attorney Laura Di Palma fled her rainy, gray hometown of Hillsdale in Northern California, leaving behind painful memories to make it big in San Francisco. Now, she's quite the controversial figure, having secured a client's acquittal of the murder of two senators. One would think she'd stay put to ride the wave of her recent success, but she's eager to get back at her ex-husband Gary . . .

The plan is to return to Hillsdale, nab the public defender job Gary wants so badly, make him squirm, and force him to feel remorse over the death of the man Laura almost left him for. But there are a few snags along the way: first, Gary is attacked before Laura has a real chance to speak with him; then two terrible murders quickly follow suit.

It's clear Laura's not the only one in town with an axe to grind, and if she hopes to survive the storm of violence ripping through Hillsdale, she'll need to remain a step ahead of a killer—and watch her back.

Praise for the Laura Di Palma Mysteries

"Di Palma is one of the smartest, most open-minded sleuths in the lawyering trade. . . . [Matera] writes with intelligence and feeling about issues that still hurt and people who still care." —The New York Times

"Di Palma certainly belongs in the same league as Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone and Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski when it comes to brains, determination, and guts." —Booklist
"[A] welcome respite from the mystery-by-formula crowd." —Kirkus Reviews