To the Sargasso Sea

With this sequel to Testing the Current, McPherson again proves that he is a writer of questing intelligence, luminous insight and delicious wit. Andrew MacAllister (called Tommy in his childhood depicted in the earlier book) is now 40, married to lovely, loving Ann, father of a delightful daughter, and about to achieve success as a playwright. In London for his new play's debut, he encounters the former Daisy Meyer, the ""older woman'' who enchanted him when he was eight, and has an adulterous liaison with her. Other temptations lurk, including that of a young Englishman who follows Andrew and Ann to Bermuda, bent on seducing Andrew. Confused, guilty (for he adores his wife), plainly enmeshed in a midlife crisis, Andrew tries to cope with the demands of his career while wrestling with the demons in his conscience. Though initially a bit opaque as McPherson reintroduces the characters from Andrew's youth, the novel has engaging dialoguesometimes larky and humorous, sometimes pregnant with serious observations about art and lifeand immensely appealing characters (almost all of whom have a rather incredible ability to quote poetry at any opportunity). An ongoing, hilarious bedtime story that Andrew tells his daughter and a steamy scene in which he is a voyeur are two of the surprises McPherson seamlessly interweaves in the totally involving narrative. (June 2)