Midnight Lace

The element of passion is more evenly developed than the element of mystery in Kary's ( From This Day Onward ) fourth historical romance. In 1844, London gossips are relishing the return from America of Duncan Palmer, Marquis of Antire, who, it is said, murdered his own father. Heiress Grayson Ware is also fascinated by Duncan; she hopes to accompany him on his return to America, abandoning her role in society to become an actress. Duncan squelches her ambitions, but when the two are found in a compromising embrace, the marquis wonders if Grayson has trapped him into marriage to gain passage to America. To complicate matters, a ``West End Strangler'' is murdering young women--and only on nights of which Duncan has no memory: he is plagued by migraines and occasionally numbs himself with laudanum. If Duncan murdered once, will he do it again? If Grayson marries him is she in danger? Of course not; this is a romance. But Kary wastes time pretending these are issues, and the identity of the real strangler, once revealed, feels like a contrivance. (Oct.)