THE CELESTIAL BUFFET

Despite Dunlap’s loyalty to California in her novels, variety is the keynote in these 17 reprints (1978–99). Continuity among the wide range of structures, tones, and settings is provided by four stories featuring Berkeley cop Jill Smith (Cop Out, 1997, etc.), one more starring La Jolla shamus Kiernan O’Shaughnessy (No Immunity, 1998, etc.), and two following the adventures of the Celestial Detective, who solves short mysteries from beyond the grave—strictly in accordance with California law.