Bearer of Bad News

A struggling hairstylist takes a job delivering difficult news in Dini’s wickedly entertaining debut. Lucy Rey—who happens to be the secret, estranged granddaughter of a legendary actress—needs cash. To get it, she responds to a posting by a woman named Taffy Waters, who’s offering $25,000 to track down her sister, Coco, and deliver a sensitive message to her. After Lucy signs a draconian nondisclosure agreement, she takes off for the Italian mountain town of Ortisei, where Coco was last seen. Also in the vicinity is obnoxious influencer Cassi, mysterious researcher David, visiting student Hilde, and vacationing hottie Chris. After an unpleasant run-in with Cassi, Lucy becomes a social media villain, and Chris helps her go into hiding. Meanwhile, Lucy learns that she’s not the only person on Coco’s trail, with several other Ortisei visitors hoping to track down the missing woman and take a valuable emerald necklace from her. Dini suffuses her complex mystery plot with bright humor and a streak of darkness, and Lucy makes for a smart and endearing heroine. Readers will hope she returns for another globe-trotting adventure soon. Agent: Sophie Cudd, Book Group. (Apr.)