Shoot the Money

From the author of The Last Madam: A Life in the New Orleans Underworld comes an edgy novel, a racy gumbo of suspense, comedy, and sisters in crime.Karen and Raynie are roommates hiding from sticky pasts. When vengeful gangsters and old boyfriends descend, Karen can''t hide from the Miami thug who wants his money back, and Raynie''s would-be rapist gets a gun and goes on a rampage. To top it off, Karen''s boss, LaDonna, has a young lover with a new and dangerous idea. The three women unite to face the repercussions of the stolen money and the violence that ensues.From Mamou to Miami to New Orleans, money and friendship are at the heart of Shoot the Money as it explores women''s desires for big bucks. They see what money does to those who have it, lose it, pursue it, or steal it-and what happens when they try a little revenge on their rapid chase toward a better life.They''ve got the money, they''re smart, and they''re daring. And they''ve got a gun. They could whip it out and shoot somebody, but that would be way too easy."Wiltz delivers fresh-sounding dialogue, and she powerfully evokes the feel of New Orleans on the rebound." -Toronto Star "Chris Wiltz is one of the stars in mystery and crime fiction. . . . Her themes shine, and she writes with both humanity and heart." -James Lee Burke"Wiltz has a particular knack for creating sexy, dangerous women." -Providence Journal"Money is at the heart of this fast-paced, action-packed novel which will especially delight female fans of Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaason. Wiltz writes about New Orleans as only an insider can, with both alarm and deep affection. Shoot the Money is unputdownable, funny, sad, and true." -Valerie Martin, Orange Prize-winning author of PropertyChristine Wiltz, a native of New Orleans, is the author of five novels, including The Killing Circle, A Diamond Before You Die, and The Emerald Lizard, all set in New Orleans and featuring Irish Channel detective Neal Rafferty. Wiltz''s novel The Glass House was praised by the New York Times as "unflinchingly honest" and a book that "needs to be read on both sides of Convent Street." Shoot the Money, her most recent fiction, is an edgy "sisters in crime" novel reminiscent of Thelma and Louise. The Last Madam, her biography of French Quarter legend Norma Wallace, is under option for film. Wiltz has written for the New Yorker, the Los Angeles Times, and numerous other publications. She has been a writer in residence and adjunct professor at both Tulane and Loyola Universities.