Life's a Bitch. So Am I. Rachel Cord, P.I.: A Confidential Investigations Mystery    by R. E. Conary Order:  USA  Can Outskirts, 2008 (2008) Paperback Read an Excerpt    Reviewed by Pat Elliott Rachel Cord is a tough take-no-nonsense kind of gal. Her business card reads Life's a Bitch. So Am I, leaving no doubt as to her intentions. Currently she is working two cases. A young girl is missing. Rachel is afraid the girl is lost in the underworld of pornography and prostitution. Her second case is more personal. Friends are involved when performers are beaten at a drag club. Before Rachel can get a handle on the case, three people are killed. Rachel blames herself because she feels she could have stopped the killings had she been there. Rachel has her own demons to conquer trying to come to grips with the fact that her partner is missing. Rachel misses her. She thought they were happy together, then one day Karen was gone. Rachel wonders why Karen left many of her things and departed without a word of goodbye. Did she go of her free will or was she abducted? Rachel's quest leads her to corruption in top city leaders and deep into the underworld of rape, sex and murder. She is nearly killed when she is abducted and placed in the same prison as young girls who were taken for profit. Rachel saves a fellow prisoner but she, herself, is damaged almost beyond repair. Though this is a good solid P.I. plot, I would not pick up the book at a bookstore because of the title. Also, there are vivid scenes of brutal rape, torture and murder. The plot and Rachel's character would carry the book without the brutality and the title. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews