Where Nobody Dies

This is the second mystery featuring Cass Jameson, the former Legal Aid attorney and amateur detective introduced in Dead Man's Thoughts. Wheat has hit on a timely subjectcorruption in New York Cityas the background for her protagonist's attempt to clear a man accused of murdering his divorced wife. The corruption comes to light when Cass discovers that the murder victim, an unscrupulous and ambitious woman, had been blackmailing a variety of powerful people, including the congressman for whom she worked. Cass's efforts to nail the true killer are played out against the rest of her caseload, including a custody battle for the dead woman's daughter. Although there is a nice surprise climax here, Wheat is not able to sustain a strong dramatic flow, and the book flounders midway. (July)