June 3, 2013
The prolific “queen of urban erotica” (Natural Born Liar) continues the saga of Harlem “con-mami” Mink LaRue in an irrepressible melding of Shakespearean-style mistaken-identity and separated-at-birth antics with J.R. Ewing–like backstabbing and blackmailing. This time Mink is working a scam with Philly grifter Dy-Nasty to claim a stake in the oil fortune of Viceroy Dominion. Mink boasts that grifting is her “favorite pastime,” but when she returns home for the funeral of the cold-hearted mom who once tried to kill her, she meets a twin she didn’t know she had, who brings her into dangerous proximity to her archrival. Everyone around Mink has secrets, and enemies anxious to reveal them—including Viceroy, the cutthroat patriarch, who awakens from a coma to discover the devious plans of his cheating wife, Selah; scandal-scarred son Barron; and business rival Rodney. Cons, identity crises, and X-rated sex play out at a dizzying pace, and Noire (Sexy Little Liar) gently skewers the raggedy band of horny strivers. An explosive finale suggests that Viceroy’s revenge will be sweet.