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SOURDOUGH WARS by Julie Smith

SOURDOUGH WARS

By

Pub Date: Aug. 10th, 1984
Publisher: Walker

Rebecca Schwartz (Death Turns a Trick) returns--with her San Francisco law job again leading her into rather farfetched trouble. This time, through elegant partner Chris Nicholson and their irreverent secretary Alan Kruznick, the firm gets involved in a scheme to auction a batch of frozen sourdough starter--willed by master baker Martinelli to his son Peter. And, believe it or not, several people seem to have a passionate need for this odd prize: brothers Tony and Bob Tosi (competing bakers); Bob's ex-wife Sally, also a baker; and Clayton Thompson, agent for Conglomerate Foods. With a boost from Rebecca's reporter/boyfriend Rob Burns, the auction hoopla escalates--but it comes to a screeching halt with the murder of Peter Martinelli and the disappearance of the starter (now inherited by Peter's not-very-grief-stricken sister). And things get increasingly antic/frantic from this point on--with zany J. A. P. Rebecca getting involved in break-ins, high-speed car chases, and the ruthless murderer's master plan. Some funny lines and an insider's view of San Francisco keep this cutesy, heavy-handed bubble afloat--just barely.