Spirited US Fish and Wildlife agent Rachel Porter is back in her native New York following the trail of murderous smugglers. Rachel Porter has relished the beautiful serenity of Hawaii, but her hometown of New York holds a special place in her heart. So when a job prospect in nearby New Jersey arises, she jumps at the chance. But, after the diversity of Hawaii, rats, roaches and seagulls are about the only creatures Jessica encounters in her new job. While she slaves away at her paperwork, Rachel pines for some excitement. But she gets more than she bargained for when the body of a rich socialite is discovered steps away from her post. Rachel fears for the safety of the woman who found the body after she is called in to investigate the mysterious $20,000 shawl, made of illegal Tibetan antelope fur, found with the victim. Rachel is determined to show that she still has the New York grit needed to track down those responsible for the brutal murder . . .

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Credible characters, evocative place descriptions and a penetrating look at the world of illegal imports lift Speart's 10th mystery to feature U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent Rachel Porter (after 2005's Restless Waters). After an idyllic stint in Hawaii, Rachel is back in her native New York City and commuting from the Lower East Side to what so far has proved a tedious new job in Port Elizabeth, N.J. One gray winter morning, she arrives at work to find police swarming around the mobile luncheonette truck operated and owned by her Polish-immigrant friend, Magda, who has discovered the body of a prominent Manhattan socialite, Bitsy von Falken. Rachel later sees Magda wearing an expensive shawl that she says a friend gave her, but when Rachel identifies the exotic material as illegal Tibetan antelope fur, Magda admits she took it from the murder victim. Rachel launches a dangerous investigation that will expose animal abuse and other crimes among New York's elite. Both established fans and new readers will cheer the gutsy Rachel every step of the way. (May)
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From Booklist

Speart's fearless heroine, Rachel Porter, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent, leaves the Hawaiian surf behind (Restless Waters, 2005) and returns to her native New York for an assignment on the New Jersey coast in this eleventh outing. At first, Rachel is a bit dissatisfied with her new gig, but when a New York socialite turns up dead, Rachel quickly realizes that this job might hold more excitement than she can take. The discovery that the woman had been wearing a Tibetan antelope shawl piques Rachel's environment-friendly interest and leads her on a path to uncovering a very dark plot indeed, involving high-powered New Yorkers, illegal imports, and appalling animal cruelty. Will her time in laid-back Hawaii make her less adept at dealing with the grittier world she now faces? Readers will relish finding the answer in this distinctive blend of mystery and environmental thriller. Mary Frances Wilkens
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