India Ink - Scent to Her Grave

Persia Vanderbilt has returned to the small island where she was reared to work in her Aunt Florence's day spa as a scent developer. And quite the life Persia has, making an apartment out of the entire third floor of her aunt's Victorian mansion and finding plenty of time to indulge in her hobbies including any form of exercise. Part of the reason for her return is a nasty breakup which has Persia swearing off men - at least until halfway through the book. Persia's the kind of woman who would feel at home in a biker bar, and the world of a day spa is an odd choice of setting for Ink who degrades the type of woman who uses the services the spa offers. An obnoxious beauty queen is found dead in the spa, and Persia is compelled to investigate when one of Florence's employee's, the dead girl's boyfriend, is accused of the crime. This book felt like an opportunity for Ink to live vicariously through her heroine more than anything else. If Persia is Ink's exemplification of the perfect woman, I feel for her.