Radio Blues

Nagy ( Virgin Kisses , et al.) makes a paltry attempt at a comic mystery here. The narrator, Aroma Sweet, is the humble twin of glamorous Amora, a psychotherapist who offers advice on New York radio station KNRD, owned by her lover, Jimmy Bob Mackay. To avoid his jealous wife, Amora and Mackay take a trip abroad after they persuade Aroma to pretend she's her sister, broadcasting words of wisdom to troubled callers. The impersonation works and Aroma enjoys her success, especially as she becomes more popular than her twin, but the triumph ends abruptly when Amora's severed head arrives at the station. Fearing for her own life and determined to find Amora's killer, Aroma drives across the country to New Mexico, with a list of suspects that include people in Amora's past. In towns along the way, Aroma adds nonstop to the book's already overloaded observations on sexually twisted, physically or otherwise maimed people and on supposedly funny ethnic traits. A hyped-up clash by night in the desert ends the absurdities. (September)