Burial

British author Cross’s smooth U.S. debut, a novel of psychological suspense, offers a familiar setup. One summer night in 1993, Nathan Redmond, a research assistant for a radio talk show, and an acquaintance of his, Bob Morrow, each have sex in Bob’s car with a stoned 19-year-old, Elise Fox, whom Nathan picked up at a party. Elise dies while doing the deed with Bob, who tells Nathan he’s sure she suffered a seizure. In a panic, the two men decide to bury the body. They manage to avoid suspicion by the police, who settle on Nathan’s sleazy boss, another party attendee, as the prime suspect in Fox’s disappearance. Fifteen years later, Bob calls on Nathan, now a greeting card salesman, with some bad news—developers have begun to dig in the area of Elise’s grave. Readers will feel little sympathy for Nathan as he tries, perversely, to make belated amends for his crime. The story flows, but the main character’s lack of depth is a reminder that Cross (Always the Sun ) is not yet in the modern masters league. (Mar.)