Even Cops' Daughters

The main subject of Webb's busy new mystery nearly seems to be located in one of the many side plots about the crises confronting Smoky O'Donnell, in charge of narcotics cases in a Texas county. Smoky believes in young Tommy Inman, a reformed ex-junkie, and assigns him to report on drug deals made by the Dragons, a vicious motorcycle gang. The Dragons pretend to accept Tommy as a member but secretly plan to kill him and O'Donnell. Drawing one's attention from Tommy's peril are Smoky's involvements in the cases of a slain disc jockey, an assault on a little girl, and a death-dealing thief. When Tommy is hospitalized because of a heroin overdose, Smoky believes his protege has betrayed his trust. By the end of the implausible story, the lad has proved himself worthy of a place beside his hero and the guilty are all under arrest. Webb wrote Darling Corey's Dead. (March)