Delusion

In her second novel, Elm (Scandal) makes ample use of her background in TV news to fashion a fast-paced look at everyday self-deception. Out jogging, recent police widow and true-crime writer Kate McCusker stumbles on the dead body of a realtor. Harry Holmsby, her husband's former partner who has spent over 20 years on the Main Line Philadelphia beat, is a cop on the scene. In a moment of inspiration, Kate convinces her book editor that the homicide case could make for a bestseller--and she persuades Harry to let her follow him as he pursues the case. So she's with him when he investigates a double killing at the house of media mogul Jack Kane, whose home was being shown by the dead real estate agent. As Kate and Harry, helped by Mike Travis from the DA's office, investigate the brutal murder of Kane's wife and their handsome young gardener, they discover that someone has been terrorizing prominent female newscasters who have worked for Kane. Did Kane kill his wife and her lover? Or did the spiteful terrorist cross the line that separates harassment from murder? Complicating Kate's life are her stepson's unreliable mother, who seems to be making overtures to reclaim the nine-year-old, and Mike's amorous advances. Despite some earnest attempts at characterization, the plot's the thing here as Elm, who's not above relying on unbelievable coincidences, hurls one curveball after another at both Kate and her readers. (Oct.)