SMFS Member Publishing News: Smooth: A Private Eye Mystery by O'Neil De Noux

SMFS list member O’Neil De Noux’s latest book, Smooth: A Private Eye Mystery is now out in print and eBook formats. This is the seventh book in the Lucien Caye Private Eye Series that began with New Orleans Rapacious. The read is available at Amazon.

 

Amazon Description:

SMOOTH gives 33 days in the life of New Orleans Private Eye Lucien Caye and his wife and sometimes partner Alizée in the autumn of 1952. The cases roll in: The repeated burglary of a wine distribution company; A missing person case from New York City; The systematic theft of farms in the semi-rural Florida Parishes across Lake Pontchartrain.

Alizée juggles private eye work with her songwriting career, writing a novel and modeling – she models stockings and underwear in ads for catalogs of top-line department stores. Modeling draws out her lustful, erotic nature, which she uses in her PI work.

Lucien catches the burglar in the first case but the case is not over. Across the lake he tries to build a case against the white collar gangster using his business and a shadowy government administration to misappropriate small farms from struggling farmers using the old tried-and-true crime of loansharking. As Lucien and Alizée close in on the loan shark and the missing person from New York, they are confronted by thugs with baseball bats and a murderer with a stiletto.

Lucien Caye became a private eye in 1947, after his second stint as a New Orleans Police Officer. He returned from WWII with a purple heart medal and silver star medal for gallantry, set up his office at the corner of Barracks and Dauphine Streets in the old French Quarter – office on the first floor with his apartment on the second floor of a two-story blond brick building with a black wrought-iron balcony wrapping around the second floor overlooking Barracks Street with Cabrini Park (neighbors called it Cabrini Playground) across the street.

Lucien built his PI resume catching Public Enemy #1 Lou Jacoby and the elusive marriage swindler, solved intricate cases – the Magnolia Murders, the mystery of the Red Witch, tragic cases like the Gungirl Case, the Peeschwet, the Love Pirate, the tragic Tenderless Night Case, the Erotophobia mystery, a Dreamboat Gambol case, a Kissable Cleavage case and a case known as A Jelly of Intrigue, tracking down killers in a Hard Rain case and covering a Little Iréne Escapade. He caught a killer who was guilty of dust and sin. A lone wolf, Lucien romanced pretty women along the way, some who thought him a Cary Grant lookalike, while others claimed he favored Gregory Peck. A working relationship with NOPD helped Lucien, who in turned assisted his buddy Lieutenant Frenchy Capdeville solve a number of murder cases.

In 1950, Lucien’s life changed when a seven-year-old girl was dropped off at his building with a small suitcase which included her birth certificate in the name of Jeannie Marie Caye. The result of a brief affair before the war, Jeannie was raised by her mother until her mother did not want her anymore and dropped her off to be raised by her father who did not know she existed. One look into the little girl’s eyes and Lucien knew this little girl would be in his heart forever. He would do everything he could for her. He had no idea how he would be able to raise her, but he’d find a way. Gone were the carefree days and torrid bachelor nights. Lucien had a daughter to raise. Not long after, a young woman entered Lucien’s life, a doe-eyed, auburn haired beauty named Alizée and by 1951, Lucien was married with a young daughter.

The cases keep coming as Jeannie’s precocious nature emerges and Alizée initial shyness fades. A songwriter, Alizée’s songs are picked up by top performers – Lena Horne, Fats Domino, Doris Day, Dina Shore, Tony Bennett, Patti Page and Frank Sinatra. She decides to write a novel, becomes a lingerie model and a part time private eye, bringing her sharp mind to the Caye Detective Agency. Alizée’s erotic past and Lucien’s acceptance of her sexy nature spices up Lucien’s life.

Lucien Caye novels NEW ORLEANS RAPACIOUS, ENAMORED, HOLD ME BABE, DAME MONEY, WALKIN' THE BLUES, and THE SPY WHO USED MY LOVE.