Thinner Blonder Whiter Author:Elizabeth Maguire As this sexy and surprising urban novel opens, Julia Moran is at the height of the publishing business and at the very center of New Yorks social and cultural tapestry. As the editor of the most prominent African-American writers, Julia is the white queen of black literature. Not to mention that shes sleeping with its reigning king, ... more »Samuel Reid, whose influential bestseller, A Native Son Bears Witnessa book she had more than a hand in shapinghas made his support the key for any candidates appeal to black voters in the current mayoral race. While the mayoral candidates squabble over the volatile issues that divide the Big Apple, there is one issue that takes top priority, a goal uniting all racial and ethnic camps: improving the education of the citys children. Yet, the evidence suggests to Julia that the citys eminences grisesits elected officials, tycoons, even its bestselling authorshave been asleep on the job, while an educational and political scandal has been hiding in plain sight. When a friend of Julias is found murdered in a hotel freezer and Samuel Reid is mysteriously kidnapped, Julia soon finds herself drawn into the investigationand into a recognition of her lovers many lies. Julias pressure-filled chase takes readers from her alcoholic brothers office to a hip-hop summit, and from a conference at a conservative think tank to a lesbian bar. As the clues pile up, Julia learns what so many powerful people have at stake in lying about the education of the citys children, just as she discovers the shattering truth about Reids ultimate betrayal of her and the city she loves, threatening to turn the dreams of New Yorkers into nightmares.« less