Susan Dunlap. An Equal Opportunity Death (1984) 184 pp.
Veronica “Vejay” Haskell is a Pacific Gas & Electric meter reader in the small town of Henderson, along the Russian River. She calls in sick to work one day and makes plans to go to San Francisco with Frank Goulet, owner of a local tavern, Frank’s Place (she and Frank both recently relocated to Sonoma County to escape the pressures of the city). When Frank abruptly cancels the trip, they argue and she leaves. Later she returns to Frank’s Place to apologize, only to find that Frank has been shot and that she is the county sheriff’s prime suspect. Vejay begins her own investigation into Frank’s murder and uncovers more information about his past than she cares to know. The investigation takes her to San Francisco and attracts the attention of the real killer.