The third outing (The Big Killing, Tender Death) for Wall Street executive headhunters Xenia Smith (the savvy, sexy one) and Leslie Wetzon (the Gracie Allen type), who are now present at a dinner honoring the chairman of Lewisher Brothers when, mid-speech, he keels over dead. Who poisoned ``Goldie''? Hoffritz, now in line to run the company? Destry Bird, second-in-command? The heads of financial services, telemarketing, compliances? Goldie's son? Or his mistress? To the disgust of Wetzon's boyfriend, Italian stud- cop Silvestri, the two women are immediately amateur sleuthing among the suspects, including one who is soon dead, another who attempts rape, and several who pop up where they have no reason to be. Between placement calls, market updates, and power lunches, and despite a parcel bomb delivered the their office, Smith & Wetzon wrap up the case (with the least likely suspect) as easily as they nail a megabuck commission. Tart swipes at brokerage policies, and positively glittering with the best of the brand names (Rolex, Carolin Roehmn, Lutece, etc.), but the general level of writing is of the men-in-tuxedos- resemble-penguins variety. Still, irreverent Wall Streeters will find it sassy and smart.
