The Dreaming Damozel

Hardwick's sixth mystery to feature Doran Fairweather, an English antiques dealer with a knack for discovering murder along with objets d'art , benefits from a vibrant atmosphere created by the interaction of intriguing characters. Suffering from malaise after a miscarriage and the loss of her business partner to a more lucrative job, Doran hopes to spark new interest in her shop by branching into Pre-Raphaelite work ; she is soon surprised to have a number of rare Rossetti drawings fall into her possession. Obsessed with Rossetti's dreaming figures and fascinated by a mysterious, eccentric man who entrusts her with one apparently rare artwork, Doran quickly links the art to murder when two bodies turn up posed in imitation of the Rossetti models. Although the identity of the culprit is not surprising, Hardwick (Perish in July) maintains an air of mystery to the end. The beautifully depicted relationship between Doran and her clergyman husband contributes greatly to the effect of this unusual and compelling tale. (Apr.)