SNAPSHOT

SNAPSHOT Linda Barnes (Delacorte, $19.95) In the latest entry in Linda Barnes' popular mystery series, a distraught mother hires private detective Carlotta Carlyle to investigate the death of her young daughter, who has succumbed to a disease that's rarely fatal. The deeper Carlyle digs for answers inside a prestigious Boston hospital, the more she endangers herself and her family by revealing an insidious high-stakes scheme. A tough-talking, taxi-driving, 6- foot-1-inch redhead with a passion for blues guitar and junk food, Carlyle is a great heroine. And while Barnes may not be a master of description, she's certainly a solid storyteller, and this book is as good a beach read as you're likely to find this summer. B+ -Sharon Isaak