Davie first appeared in Pacific Homicide and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Davie.

What is your name?
My name is Davina Richards. My mother chose it from a book of baby names. It means “the beloved one” in Hebrew. Since it’s the feminine of David, everybody has always called me Davie—except for Alexander Camden, my landlord and friend. He’s an elegant guy and a bit formal, so I don’t object when he calls me Davina even though I don’t care much for the name.

How old are you?
I’m thirty-one, but I don’t pay much attention to birthdays. Luckily, I’m the same age as my partner Jason Vaughn. I’ll probably only know when I turn thirty-two after his mother throws her annual birthday bash for her baby boy. He pretends the hoopla embarrasses him, but I know he loves the attention.

What is your profession?
I’m a Homicide detective for the Los Angeles Police Department. I’ve been on the job for nine years, eight in patrol and one year as a detective. Half of that time I was assigned to Southeast Burglary and the other half at Pacific Homicide. My dad AKA Bear is a retired LAPD Gang detective. He cautions me that I can love the job but the job will never love me. Doesn’t matter. I love my job.

Do you have a significant other?
Cops often date and marry other cops because of the nature of the work—long stressful hours dealing with grieving family members and the criminal element of society. Not all civilians understand that sort of life, nor can they deal with it long-term. I’ve never married but I’ve been in relationships. None of them worked out. But that could change because of a man I recently met, a detective from another division. I like and respect him. I’m pretty sure he feels the same way about me.

What is his name and profession?
His name is Jon Striker. He’s a Detective-2 assigned to the Homicide-Special unit of Robbery Homicide Division at LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. He outranks me so working with him presents a potential conflict if our personal relationship turns serious. I’m not sure what will happen between us but—stay tuned.

Any children?
Nope.

Do you have any sibling(s)?
I have a younger brother named Robert, but everybody calls him Robbie. He’s handsome and knows it, which makes him sort of pill sometimes. He legally changed his last name to Cross, the name of my mother’s new husband. Bear was devastated at first, but he’s forgiven Robbie because he loves his kids no matter what.

Cats, dogs or other pets?
A couple of months ago, I fostered a cool cat named Hootch, a longhaired tabby that belonged to one of my victims. After Zeke Woodrow was murdered, somebody let Hootch out of his Topanga Canyon house. The little guy lived in the wild for a few days, dodging coyotes. When I found him he was skittish and covered with mats. I would have kept him but my work hours are unpredictable. Hootch deserved a forever home with someone who could be with him fulltime. It was with mixed emotions that I gave him to one of Zeke’s best friends. But it was the right decision for both of them.

What town do you live in?
I live in an affluent neighborhood on the Westside of Los Angeles called Bel Air. Some people say it’s part of the “platinum triangle,” which also includes the adjacent wealthy neighborhoods of Holmby Hills and Beverly Hills.

House or building complex? Own or Rent?
I rent a guesthouse on the property of a large estate owned by Alexander Camden, an international art dealer that I met during one of my investigations. He stores valuable paintings and antiques in his house, as well as in the guesthouse, so he likes that a cop lives there. He keeps the rent low so I can afford to stay. I love the place and don’t plan to leave anytime soon.

What is your favorite spot in your house?
I love the loft, which is at the top of a spiral staircase. It’s a cozy, peaceful space just big enough for a futon and a small bookcase. Plus, it has a great view of Alex’s garden and the swimming pool.

Who is your best friend?
I’m close to my partner and my dad Bear but my best friend is my grandmother. Grammy is wise and funny and she loves me more than anything.

Amateur sleuth or professional?
Since I get paid for investigating homicides, I guess I’m a professional, although I never think of myself that way. I’m a public servant, a cop who believes that I alone stand in the victim’s shoes, protecting their interests against all others.

Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
Our squad room has about forty detectives assigned there at any given time, representing Autos, Burglary/Theft, MAC, Robbery, and Homicide. We all help each other whenever necessary. The Homicide table has four detectives plus my boss Frank Giordano. The person I work most closely with is my partner is Jason Vaughn. He’s a jokester and a pain in the butt sometimes. He calls me a “green-eyed Ninja” and teases that my boots are maximum dorky, but he’s the best partner I’ve ever had.

Favorite meal?
Combo plate #1 at Paco’s Tacos on Centinela.

Favorite dessert?
I have a weakness for raspberries and blueberries, topped with walnuts and a little honey.

Favorite hobby?
I used to run in my patrol days, but I slacked off after transferring to Pacific—except to chase an occasional bad guy. A couple of months ago, one of the Autos detectives talked me into training for the Baker/Vegas run, which the LAPD organizes to promote physical fitness among its employees. So, I’m back running again and enjoying it.

Favorite vacation spot?
The British Virgin Islands. I recently traveled to Tortola to interview a witness in a murder investigation and fell in love with the place. I was heartbroken to learn of the devastation from the recent hurricanes. I’m planning to go back, not only to have fun but also to support the local economy.

Favorite color?
LAPD blue, of course.

Favorite author?
I read a lot of non-fiction because of my work, including a recent book about money laundering that related to one of my cases. I like both true crime and crime fiction, especially books about the LAPD. I’m also a news junky. And don’t tell anybody because it might tarnish my tough-girl cred, but I love the Harry Potter books.

Favorite sports team?
Lakers and Dodgers!

Movies or Broadway?
I’ve never seen a play on Broadway, but it’s on my bucket list. I love movies and go whenever I have free time. Sometimes that means ducking into a matinee.

Are you a morning or a night person?
That depends. When I’m investigating a fresh murder, I barely eat, sleep, or even shower until all leads evaporate. I could catch a few winks in the cot room at the station if I got too tired, but that would be a challenge for me. I’m a bit of a germophobe and you never know when those sheets were last washed.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
When you work Homicide there aren’t many “typical” days. I usually arrive at the station by 6:00-7:00 a.m. and grab a cup of coffee from the pot behind my boss’s desk. I clear the messages from my landline answering machine and read any memos, subpoenas, and faxes on my desk. If I’m not scheduled to appear in court to testify on an old case, my partner and I will likely sign out a detective car and head out to interview witnesses. If we get a call-out to a new murder, all bets are off.

Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of The Second Goodbye. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends December 10, 2018. Good luck everyone!

You can read about Davie in The Second Goodbye, the third book in the “Pacific Homicide” mystery series.

Assume nothing—that’s the touchstone for every homicide investigation Detective Davie Richards undertakes. She approaches her latest case the same way, determined to learn as much about the victim as she does about the killer. But there’s nothing about thirty-four-year-old Sara Montaine or her death that makes sense.

Was Sara a saint caring for her dying husband or a gold-digger with a sketchy background? Did she commit suicide or was she murdered? Before her marriage, Sara lived comfortably without any obvious source of income, unusual for an orphan raised in foster care. As Davie digs deeper, she unearths Sara’s troubled past and a viper’s nest of villains who are willing to kill to keep their secrets hidden.

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About the author
Los Angeles-based writer Patricia Smiley is the author of four novels featuring amateur sleuth Tucker Sinclair. The three books in her latest series are hard-boiled police procedurals about LAPD homicide detective Davie Richards (Pacific Homicide, Outside the Wire, The Second Goodbye). The novels are based on her fifteen years as a volunteer and a Specialist Reserve Officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. Patty’s short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Two of the Deadliest, an anthology edited by Elizabeth George. She has taught writing at various conferences in the U.S. and Canada and also served as vice president for the Southern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America and as president of Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles. For more information, please visit patriciasmiley.com.

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