Crimson Green: A Quinn Parker Novel of Suspense

The fourth adventure for San Francisco-based phobia therapist Quinn Parker begins at Pebble Beach, where Quinn is caddying for his old high school buddy, golf pro Brad Helfan, who has received a badly misspelled death threat. Brad, a relative unknown who is tied for the lead of the U.S. Open, insists that the police not be called. After he is brutally murdered on the course the next day, Quinn investigates with the help of his sidekick, aspiring comedian, Hank Wilkie, and without the help of police. Quinn learns that Brad, who had hustled golf, gambled and been deep in debt, had called his ex-wife the night before his death to say something important was coming in the mail. The supporting cast includes a zesty assortment of hustlers, gangsters, thugs and a boxer, plus Quinn's straightforward love interest, Kate, who returns from Blood Under the Bridge. Zimmerman, more adept at action scenes, especially fistfights, than characterization, provides enough male bonding here for a series of beer commercials. (Sept.)