The Woman in the Moon

Lehmkuhl's first novel is a witty excursion into the realm of women's liberation and contemporary sexual mores, deftly handled in the unmistakably civilized British manner. The heroine, advice columnist Zena Baird, suddenly is propelled into a murder investigation after one of her readers is discovered strangled near her home. Feeling herself to be a failure as a wife, mother and journalist, Zena embarks on an investigation in order to boost her sagging confidence. But things take a nasty turn when the bodies of other women begin turning up, and the police soon regard Zena as their prime suspect. As she follows the trail of clues, from a plush Soho lesbian bar to a stark women's prison to a shady abortionist, Zena finds herself hounded by police, fighting for her freedomand possibly her life. An intricate yet logical plot, lively, well-drawn characters, and the author's sympathetic, accurate handling of London's demimonde make this book highly satisfying. (April 4)