The Bandersnatch

Antiques dealer Doran Fairweather and her husband, Rodney Chelmarsh, last seen in Uneaseful Death , have become the parents of Christopher, adored by all, including his crippled half sister Helena. Even though money is tight, Doran falls for and buys a carved wooden cherub she sees as the image of Christopher. After refusing to sell the cherub to both a collector and a dealer, the Chelmarshes discover it may be connected to a murder. One night they return home to find their house has been searched, another night they find their babysitter beaten unconscious, the carving half pried from the wall above the baby's crib, and Christopher gone. Although the police, seriously unhappy over Doran's previous involvements in murder, order the Chelmarshes off the investigation, Doran follows the kidnapper's instructions for exchanging the carving for the baby. When that fails, she follows other leads to the island of Jersey and an extremely wealthy collector. The new adventure of Hardwick's civilized and charming sleuth and her family is a fine addition to the series as well as an accurate depiction of life in modern, rural England. Running references to Lewis Carroll's writings add an elegant touch. ( Aug. )