Lucky Stiff by Deborah Coonts

Lucky O’Toole, the feisty heroine from Deborah Coonts novel Wanna Get Lucky? is back and better than ever. In the second novel, Lucky Stiff, Lucky is now happily dating female impersonator/singing extraordinaire Teddie, and still working for the luxurious Babylon Resort and Casino on the Vegas strip. On a seemingly normal night, a swarm of bees escapes from an exhibit, and Lucky’s normal streak is over. The domino effect begins, starting with a DA naked and locked hotel closet, a bookie with no conscience found dead in the shark tank, and Lucky’s good friend at the top of the suspect list. Could the DA and bookie be relevant to one another? And can Lucky handle all the Babylon’s problems on top of her love life, which is spinning out of control after Teddie is offered a recording deal?

Lucky Stiff is even better than the first, which is usually pretty rare. I liked that even though this was a sequel, it could easily be a stand alone as well. And Coonts doesn’t fill the pages with information readers would find in the first novel, she gives just the right amount of needed info and moves on with the new plot line. The writing borders on raunchy, with sex being a hot topic amongst all the characters- especially Lucky’s Madame mother- who is auctioning off a young woman’s virginity. Readers will enjoy the fast paced scenes, the picture of a glittery and glamorous Vegas with an underlying of secrets and sin. I heard from Coonts that she is currently working on a third in the series, and I cannot wait to read it!