Outside Child, by Alice Wilson-Fried is a marvelous masterpiece of murder and mayhem on the Mississippi. Ladonis Washington wants nothing more than to climb to the top of her career. She works for the Floating Palace Steamboat Company in public relations. One day her friend and mentor Tim is reported missing, presumed dead. She is put in charge of keeping a lid on publicity. Her assignment quickly places her in the midst of the mysterious investigation into his death. When his body is found it is determined he was murdered. Ladonis spends her time searching for answers to Tim’s death, although through it all has an epiphany of her own life.

This is a debut novel by a storyteller with a natural gift for capturing the southern dialect and conversational speech from both ends of New Orleans’ society. At times her characters’ dialogue touches your emotions like a symphonic melody that plays to the depth of your soul. It can be sharp, quick, witty, laughable, attacking and often deadly. The characters are memorable, so much so that it could be a movie mystery. Each character is shaped by their speech and the role they play or the nickname they live by. How can you forget Laundry Man, Preacher Man, HeartTrouble, L’il Boy, JockStrap and Big Blake?

My favorite scene from the book is when Ladonis visits her mother. Her mom is complaining because Ladonis doesn’t visit often and says to her, “You don’t miss the water till the well is dry.” Now who can’t relate to this remorse ridden remark? The words are priceless. Ladonis on the other hand has three nicknames for her mother’s three personalities and decides that today she is Martyr Theresa. On other days she may be Sick Puppy or Pissed Off. This is a mere magical moment between mother and daughter. Yet, it arouses your senses, touches your heart and is just genuine, a glimmer of time that is precious to all women captured so beautifully by the author.

Wilson-Fried, who grew up in the Magnolia Housing Projects, tackles the racism and social aspects of New Orleans. She shows how the marginal members of society, blacks, women and gays are still the city’s outside children. To break into the New Orleans’ white male dominated business and political arena there are challenges and tough choices needed to succeed with the endurance of a marathon runner. This is a theme that does not overpower the story but is the story. The mystery is a bonus, a wonderful who-done-it.

Anxiety ridden moments of anticipation will make you read on. You will hang on a limb at the end of each chapter. Don’t miss reading this pre-Katrina New Orleans thriller. ( )