The Rhinestone Monkey — Lee Anderson

Polly Kent is falling in love with her handsome, charming new boss, lawyer Sam McIvers, and Sam feels the same way about her. Any clouds on their horizon should have silver linings. Then one day when Sam is out of town, Polly takes a desperate call from his Aunt Constance, and Sam, assuring her that Constance often gets hysterical about nothing at all, asks Polly to investigate.

Polly soon discovers that this time Constance was hysterical for good reason: Her estranged husband lies dead in the stable, the victim of a strangler. After calling the police and comforting Constance, Polly thinks her part in the grizzly business is over. Unfortunately, it has just begun: The murderer had been hiding near the stable when Polly arrived, and he is convinced that she had discovered what he was looking for--a rhinestone monkey of enormous value. If she doesn't find the monkey soon, she'll wind up being the next victim!