A bloodied body buried on Cape Cod. A cold case in Kansas. Can Leila track down a killer?     After a blinding snowstorm, artist and amateur sleuth Leila Goodfriend wakes early in the morning for a walk in the woods to think, to escape. When she stumbles on the bloodied body of a woman buried in a snow bank, Leila digs desperately, her fingers bleed, shaking with fear, she knows who it is. It's Susie, the ex-girlfriend of Steve, a failed photographer she dumped months before.  Leila was at a creative retreat with her eccentric group of Red Barn artist friends, on a remote island off Cape Cod. On the rebound from a relationship, Leila found herself attracted to Detective John Grace, a partner in both romance and crime investigation. However, when the police arrive on the crime scene, Detective Grace warns her not to investigate a murder case, again. But Leila trusts her instincts and resolves to prove Steve's innocence, at least of murder. As an artist, Leila is convinced that bodies have a story to tell. Unauthorized, Leila observes Susie's autopsy--and the body reveals an enigmatic clue: Susie died on a bed of long-stemmed roses. Steve, the police's prime murder suspect, begs Leila to help him--swears he has evidence that Susie's killer is a suspect in a cold case in Kansas. Leila confronts the suspect, pocketing an intriguing piece of evidence--an arrowhead. Tracking the trail of blood and revenge from Cape Cod to a Native American casino in Kansas, where a ritualistic murder reveals a cold case killer--and a deadly secret from Leila's past. Death In Smoke, the new, fast-paced psychological thriller from acclaimed author Barbara Elle, takes readers on an inner and physical journey, challenging assumptions about what is truth--what remains a mystery.  Readers are saying... "I found the story intriguing and the characters likable.  Amateur sleuth Leila is quite entertaining, as she chases down the latest leads, and a strong female protagonist." "Features a compelling plot, a driving-forward narrative, and quirky, memorable characters." "I couldn't put it down... If you liked (Death In Vermilion) you'll love the second in the series, though it is also great as a stand alone novel." "I'm a big fan of Barbara Elle's writing. I can't wait until the next novel in the series, and I definitely recommend checking Death in Smoke out!" About Death In Vermillion ... "... Humor mixed with an addictive mystery plot twist and an unexpected ending. Can't wait until the second book comes out!" "I found some parts of the book delightfully sinister...  there is some clever humor too in this twisty murder mystery."