Sharon McCone, Marcia Muller's street-smart, San Francisco PI, is stilldealing with the emotional aftermath of her brother Joey's suicide when she'shired by Roger Nagasawa's parents to prove that their son died of overwork, andthat he was driven to kill himself by the brutal, high-pressure atmosphere atInsite, the hip online magazine that employed him. Enlisting the help of herreporter friend J.D., McCone learns that the magazine is failing, despite themillions in venture capital that's supposedly financing it. The mystery deepenswhen she retrieves deleted files from Roger's computer suggesting that he knewwho was sabotaging the magazine and shared that information, which hecharacterized as "insurance," with Jody Houston, a close friend, before hejumped off the Bay Bridge. Tracking Houston to an isolated cabin on the Oregoncoast, McCone stumbles over the dead body of her friend J.D., and then findsherself framed for his murder. By the time she uncovers the truth about Roger'ssuicide and unmasks J.D.'s killer, she's confronted her remorse over Joey'sdeath and put a painful part of her own past behind her. As usual, Muller turnsin a solidly plotted, well-paced mystery with a heroine who grows inself-awareness and complexity with every new adventure. --Jane Adams

• mystery novel