Deathstorm

In this thoroughly engaging mystery, retired newspaper executive Ralph Simmons becomes involved in the death and devastation that engulfs a tiny Long Island peninsula when the long arm of Nazi vengeance strikes several members of the community. Fred Engelhart and his wife are killed by a mysterious explosion. Afterwards, their daughter, Eileen, is taken in by Ralph and his wife. Eileen believes her father was murdered, and Rudi Mannheim, who had served with Ralph in the German Army, does not disagree. In fact, he strongly suspects another neighbor, a former Nazi lieutenant who, Rudi says, had been after Ralph 50 years earlier for his alleged membership in a German pacifist group. After several leads are dead-ended by the murders of the suspects, Ralph offends the sensibilities of a theretofore unimportant player. This puts him and Eileen in serious trouble, but reveals the identity of Fred's murderer and also the surprising truth about Fred himself. Gillespie's ( The Last of the Honeywells ) tight writing is compelling, and his portrayal of the opening firestorm memorable. (July)