Another piece of the puzzle is put together as more is revealed about Carlotta Carlyle’s intriguing world while reading this 3rd book in the series, especially about her little sister Paolina (from the Big Sisters program). Carlotta takes her responsibility towards her little “sister” very seriously. She has been a big sister to Paolina since the little girl was 7 and has spent a lot of time with her, trying to teach her self-worth, taking her out to various educational and fun activities, trying to let her see things beyond her own little world, also teaching her that women can fend for themselves something Paolina’s own mother Marta, coming from her very traditional Latino world isn’t teaching her daughter.But first of all, let’s not forget that Carlotta is an investigator, and this time the case begins when a young immigrant woman comes to Carlotta and asks for her help in recovering a green card which she claims is hers and which was found on a woman who was brutally murdered. When Carlotta begins investigating, she becomes embroiled with Immigration officials, drug lords, and so-called "coyotes" who make a profit from people who are desperate to enter the U.S. She senses that Paolina is somehow involved and this puts up a wall between Paolina, her mother, and Carlotta. Adding a little spice is the handsome young INS man who flirts with Carlotta and tempts her to betray Sam, who is on a trip abroad. This wasn’t perhaps the best plot I read, but it’s good enough and I liked it.Carlotta Carlyle is certainly one of my favorite female investigators (private or otherwise). Her world, her friends, her relatives are quite unconventional and interesting. I especially like Mooney, her friend and ex-colleague cop. I like it that they still work together and help each other. Carlotta is a tall, red-headed, wisecracking, volleyball-playing private investigator who drives a cab on the side, and I really like her sense of loyalty, devotion and honour.
