Kat's Cradle

Outstanding among today's female detectives, PI Kat Colorado exhibits conscience and compassion, muscle and wisecracking savvy in an appealing and believable combination. Kat agrees to help presumed orphan Paige Morrell find out about her parents now that her grandmother Florence, who refused to discuss them, has died. Little by little, Kat peels away layers of the past, discovering that Paige's mother, one of twin daughters mistreated by Florence, may still be alive. Enhancing the story and complicating Kat's life as she travels to Lake Tahoe, Calif., and to Omaha are her lover Hank, her ``self-appointed grandmother'' Alma and her unstable best friend Charity, an advice columnist . In taut confident prose, Edgar Award-winner Kijewski ( Katapult ), who is Mystery Writers of American Nor/Cal vice-president, delivers an intricate plot to complete reader satisfaction. (Mar.)