Blood Relation

The cutthroat London publishing world is the setting for this mystery presenting William Dougal, part-time investigator, freelance book editor and full-time decent guy. Dougal is the reverse of hard-boiled; he's wistful and vulnerable, and flinches at physical violence. He longs to form a family with Celia Prentisse and their illegimate baby, Eleanor. But first he must solve the disappearance and suspected murder of suddenly flush and generally loathed publishing executive Oswald (Oz) Finwood. Suspects will include Oz's estranged wife, Lesley, (who'd do anything for daughter Olivia); Lesley's scapegrace brother, Ross; Edgar Timworth, a newly affluent literary agent who loves Lesley; and Josephine Jones, who stands to inherit Oz's job. And what about Oz's discovery, A. J. McQuarm, the mysterious, pseudonymous author of an especially witless bestselling schlockbuster? No trace of the reclusive author can be found in the publisher's files. Taylor ( Blacklist ) serves up the literary equivalent of snack food, but it's quite crunchy. (Apr.)