West End

Laura Van Wormer. St. Martin's Press, $5.95 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-312-92262-7

Bewitching, calculating TV reporter Alexandra Waring becomes America's sweetheart when a madman shoots her on camera. ``The overpadded, meandering novel that follows this dramatic opening is relieved but not salvaged by snappy tongue-in-cheek dialogue,'' commented PW. (Aug.)

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