Bard-Collins, Joan

This debut is almost as much an architectural history as it is a mystery. The author details the construction of the first modern skyscrapers that transformed 1880s Chicago from a backwater crossroads into an urban giant. Garrett is a likable sleuth, and the supporting characters are equally appealing and colorful; Louis Sullivan is charming, and Garrett's romantic interest, Charlotte Reid, runs high-stakes poker games. Fans of Walter Satterthwait's mysteries featuring Pinkerton agents Jane Turner and Phil Beaumont will enjoy this series launch.