The Cords of Vanity

London-based, pricey private investigator John Samson is no run-of-the-mill detective-series hero: he collects antique clocks and eats quiche during stakeouts. In his puzzling new case, he is challenged to decide which story put forward by his flaky, haughty client Sybil Huntingdon-Winstanley is true. Does she really want him to tail a philandering husband, or does she simply hunger to learn whether the guy is involved in criminal business--or neither? Within hours of accepting the assignment, Samson is threatened by hubby Simon; is mugged; and later, while on the trail of Simon and his mysterious chauffeur, Robert Mansour, is bagged again. Yet none these events nor the burning of his office rattles the cool gumshoe or his secretary, Shandy. While Tripp ( The Frightened Wife ) is busily portraying a very strange menage a trois, all goes well, but he falters when burdening the plot with foreign intrigue and other peripheral matters, and when concocting a surprising finale that doesn't tie all loose threads together. (May)