Blood Sacrifice

The author of six mysteries featuring Inspector Bamsan Kiet of the fictional Indochinese nation of Luong (most recently Kiet Goes West ) changes venue for a new series starring Luis Balam, a Yucatec Maya. Mexican police think they have captured the serial killer who has been stalking women in Cancun's posh Hotel Zone: Proctor Smith, a Protestant missionary, was caught leaving the room of the fourth victim, prostitute Maria Lopez, who had a Mayan knife buried in her chest. Proctor's lawyer, Ricardo Martinez Rodriguez, hires Luis to investigate. Luis would love to pin the murders on Raul Estrada Estrada, who got him thrown off the police force, but Proctor isn't making it easy: he has no alibi and a talent for picking locks. When Maria's sister, Denise Lowell, swoops down from Seattle, ``raising hell and demanding answers,'' Inspector Hector Salgado Reyes copes by passing her on to his friend Luis. The pair readily take to each other and team up in this lively launch notable for its engaging sleuth and an assortment of colorful secondary characters, some of whom are clearly earmarked for return appearances. ( July )