At a bouffant society Botox Party, anchorwoman Miranda DuBois tries to plug Dallas’s own "Doctor Botox" for previously ruining her on-air looks. Andy Kendricks, a reluctant attendee who’d rather be snuggling with her boyfriend Brian Malone, safely takes Miranda home. The next morning, Andy discovers she was the last person to see Miranda alive. Add in the twist of a kinky sex club and it’ll be a bumpy ride.

Fans of McBride’s snarky but softhearted heroine know that, as surely as you can spot breast implants, you can predict that Andy soon will be embroiled in a murder investigation. McBride’s amusing supporting cast of characters, such as Andy’s larger-than-life mother Cissy, will deliciously complicate the quiet life Andy swears up and down that she wants. Readers want to know, however: if Andy wanted quiet, wouldn’t she move away from Big D and its society hijinks? For all of McBride’s fans’ sakes, I’m pleased she constantly wades into mayhem, especially if Cissy is there to command center stage. Andy is adorable, but Cissy is definitely McBride’s breakout character, a cross between Marie Barone and Betsy Bloomingdale.

I’ve followed this series from word one, and it’s satisfying to see both the familiar character conflicts, murder entanglements and the superb character development that doesn’t feel plastic.