Except for the Bones

Using a gripping minute-by-minute, day-by-day format, Wilcox (Silent Witness) charts the downfall of New York real estate tycoon Preston Daniels, first encountered on Cape Cod at the scene of his mistress's accidental death. College freshman Diane Cutler and her boyfriend see Daniels, her despised stepfather, carrying a body to the local landfill. After the boyfriend attempts blackmail and is badly beaten, the terrified Diane flees to San Francisco to stay with a friend, who tries to persuade PI Alan Bernhardt to take on Diane as a client and protect her. Bernhardt claims he is too busy, so his actress girlfriend Paula takes on the job. Paula saves Diane from an attacker, but darker events are in store: after the frightened girl learns of her boy friend's death, she overdoses on drugs. Swearing to find out and expose what Diane knew, Alan travels to Cape Cod to investigate. Wilcox delivers a taut, suspenseful mystery with credible dialogue and good local color. (Nov.)