Books by Ray Lanthier

A divorced European-bred octogenarian takes in a less fortunate widow from the barrios of Los Angeles to take care of her full-time in her Napa Valley mansion. The mix of classes and family conflicts is toxic and unpredictable. Even urban artist sub-culture and international politics invade the elegant lives of the Grand Napa Valley Estate.

After the trial and conviction of Helen Strathmore, the question "where''s Helen?" preoccupies only a few people like the complainant, Robin Sympass and not for long. She is too taken up with the toll that her husband Jim''s psychiatric hospitalization has taken on her son and household. A small support group of Sympass friends forms and meets for lunch/brunch/dinner. On one of these occasions a new member is introduced, Dalene Kimball a deaconess at Mrs. Pettigrew''s church. She is expected to ''help'' with the Sympass family situation and it is her good doings that gives the lives of all connected an unusual and even supernatural turn. Greg Ryan, Helen Strathmore''s former detective is the only one intent on finding her and he investigates under cover as Darlene''s assistant. But that strategy finds him struggling in the web of legal, personal and family conflicts that Miss Kimball has spun. The unraveling violently takes a few select lives on its path to final revelation.

Having learned how much crime can pay, Camilla sets up a company of like-minded staff and associates. The harm her reckless manipulations cause pull Jim Sympass into the fray, this time as the love detective. Consequences close in on her but she keeps escaping by the full complement of her dodgy skills. Jim tries to save her soul.