Close-Up on Death

A thin plot, plodding narrative and unlikable characters are serious drawbacks to this debut. The corpse of the lovely and critically acclaimed English actress, Liza Drew, is found by her best friend and fellow thespian, Millie Hale. The circumstances of her demise are grotesque: acid was poured into her mouth. Though the case appears unsolvable, Detective Inspector John Bright is determined to crack it. In an effort to unmask the killer, he drives a wedge between the once-close trio of suspects: Drew's mother, her longtime consort, actor Paul Mannon, and Hale. The results are surprising, indeed. O'Brien tries to spark interest in the proceedings by adding a love story, but the relationship is an unbelievable one. O'Brien, an actress and radio playwright, has captured the ambience of the theatrical world, but that doesn't save this boring mystery. (Sept.)