Philibert

He's the top lawyer in Texas, but when his beautiful assistant is murdered, Philibert Q. Winslow becomes a suspect. Isn't it reasonable, the police argue, that his love for Gila might have turned to hatred as she continually showered her physical affections on others. Winslow is confindent in his ability to influence the courts--and he has Gila's fiance as an even better suspect, but the evidence against him seems strong. And there's plenty of evidence that Winslow desperately hopes will never see the light of day.

Recognizing that the police are more interested in a conviction than the truth, especially not in a truth that leaves him free, Winslow undertakes his own investigation. Oddly, though, witnesses seem to be an endangered species--dying almost as quickly as Winslow can find them. Although Winslow has taken Trevor as his client, could he actually be setting up a frame?

Author Michael Paulson mixes humor with hard-boiled mystery to deliver an entertaining and exciting mystery. Winslow is full of himself, delightfully arrogant, completely flawed, and extremely entertaining. Gila, the perfect woman in Winslow's eyes, is gradually revealed to be something less than perfect--but perhaps not as horrible as the police believe her to be.

I, PHILIBERT Q. WINSLOW is one of those reads that grabs you and sticks with you--I'm happy to recommend this one.