THE BODY IN THE BALLROOM is an enjoyable historical mystery. The heroine, a beautiful 18-year-old known for her outrageous behavior, Alice Roosevelt is the daughter of President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. Alice is sent for the season to Old New York to live at the Caledonia, the lavish apartment of Mrs. Cowles, sister of the president. Joseph St. Clair, a former Rough Rider turned Secret Agent, is sent along as Alice's protector. St. Clair dresses in a western jacket, boots, and a Stetson, and Alice calls him "cowboy." Their relationship is good and he calls her "Princess."

Alice is invited to attend a ball at the home of her best friend, Philadelphia Rutledge, where one of the guests, a wealthy and very unpopular man, Lynley Brackton, is poisoned from the punch each guest is required to sample during the fete. Alice, Simon Rutledge, Philadelphia, Mrs. Brackton and Delilah Linde are all near the punch bowl when the murder occurs. St. Clair is summoned to call the police, and an investigation begins. Alice, always interested in crime, sets her plans to solve the murder with the help of St. Clair. When Delilah Linde is murdered by a bottle she receives in the mail, it is discovered the bottle contained the same punch from the gala. With the help of St. Clair, Alice forges ahead with her own investigation, even as more and more suspects seem to appear, including an old friend of St. Clair's. Lies, betrayals, and infidelities run rampant as Alice and St. Clair follow the clues. The action becomes fast and furious, but soon Alice is sure she knows who the killer is and she's ready to make her accusation. Is she correct?

THE BODY IN THE BALLROOM by R.J. Koreto is the second in the Alice Roosevelt series. I found Alice to be smart, creative and very flirty with her very own Secret Service defender. Their chemistry is funny and hints at a mutual attraction. St. Clair is sweet, patient, and will steal your heart. Will these two sleuthing buddies return soon for another romp together? I hope so and I will be eager to see where they find the next victim? Great read!