The Big Kiss (LaStanza New Orleans Police Novels)

THE BIG KISS – LaStanza Novel #2

This is New Orleans – 1982. In Homicide, you’re only as good as your last case. Fresh from solving the Slasher Murders, NOPD Homicide Det. LaStanza must investigate a ‘floater’ pulled from the Mississippi River. The bloated body with two holes in the head is the son-in-law of the La Cosa Nostra Boss Alphonso Badalamente. Sicilian-American LaStanza’s is in the middle of a Mafia slaying. LaStanza’s new partner, Paul Snowood, who dresses in cowboy get-ups, teases LaStanza with, “There goes your perfect record.” The killer is probably back in Detroit or Chicago or maybe China.

LaStanza keeps his date with Lizette Louvier (from Grim Reaper). The relationship of this working-class detective and the uptown daughter of the wealthy class grows slowly. That same evening the body of a young prostitute is found. LaStanza learns she was shot twice in the forehead, and has the bullets compared to the bullets from his victim’s. It’s the same gun, a .22 Magnum. The killer’s still in town and LaStanza must connect the victims to hopefully lead him to the murderer.