Polo, Anyone?: A Nick Polo Mystery

Nick Polo was applauded when he originally appeared in Polo, Solo as a hero inspired by Kennealy's own career as a San Francisco private detective. Here banker Paul Randall offers Polo a rich fee to sit in on a poker game and discover whether computer tycoon Ron Dettman is cheating. He is, but Polo outfoxes the cardsharp and wins thousands from him. Collecting the money, though, pulls the detective into investigating thefts of priceless ""neurochips'' and murders. Polo keeps one step ahead of the killer or killers and a wary eye on Dettman's actions during the swift narrative convolutions, which the author adroitly balances between episodes that cause horror and hilarity right up to the sudden and rather sad finale. Wily, modest, daring Polo is bound to attract more fans with his return engagement. (March)