Ashes to Ashes

Pulver ( Murder at the War ) here tells the third tale featuring Detective Peter Brichter of the Charter (Ill.) police and his wife Kori. Though titillating and atmospheric, the yarn is less than credible. Still chasing after evidence of organized mobsterssuch as Kori's uncle, who had tried to kill her for her large intheritanceBrichter teams up with crooked Lt. Dahl of Homicide, who is on a murder-arson case. The owner of ``Crazy Dave's'' appliance store, Dave Wagner, insists he had borrowed thousands he couldn't pay back to a loan shark, Vigotti, who now demands the fire-insurance money. When Vigotti is ``eliminated'' as a suspect by local capos, Brichter forms a close relationship with elderly arson-expert Captain Isaac (Zak) Kader, and their investigation confirms Crazy Dave's alibi. Tireless deduction produces evidence that clinches the case but creates more victims as a consequence. Threats to Kori, hints of Lt. Dahl's involvement and other talky diversions dilute the plot before the novel closes with a hyped-up car chase. (Dec.)