Sweetie Bogan's Sorrow: 5 (Elder Darrow Mystery)

Rasmussen Carter is grooming Lily Miller a young jazz singer to be a star. Shes singing at the Greenwood-the new incarnation of the Esposito-now owned and managed by Baron Loftus the nephew of Sweetie Bogan an aging jazz diva. The night Lily debuts Carter is stabbed in a fight by Sweetie Bogans lover Alfonso Deal-Jones. Lily then abandons Rasmussen Carter for Edward Dare who promises to make her a real star.Carter is killed in the hospital and Marina asks Elder Darrow now retired from the bar business to investigate-since his pal and Marinas soon-to-be husband Boston Police detective Dan Burton is still jealous of Carter and Marinas brief fling. Deal-Jones is found beaten to death and Burton discovers Alfonso was setting up a cocaine deal with Edward Dare the lieutenant to a major New Orleans gangster who also happens to be death on drug dealing.On their own time Elder and Burton must solve the murders of the low-rent impressario and the New Orleans gangsters right-hand man. Burton is sure theres a connection. And in the process Elder discovers he may not be cut out for a life of leisure just yet . . .