Black alibi
(Book)

Kiki Walker is a second-rate American singer who becomes a sensation in South America known for her beauty and red hair. Her press agent Jerry Manning arranges for her to parade up and down the streets with a "tamed" black jaguar to boost her popularity even further. It all goes well until flash bulbs cause the animal to go wild, attacking the singer before disappearing into an alley. Kiki isn't hurt badly but four young women are mauled and slashed to death in what the authorities believe to be attacks by the wild animal. Manning, feeling responsible, joins the investigation, but believes that someone is using the city's fear of the jaguar to cover a murderous blood-lust.