In Self-Defense

First-time author Gregory has written a fast-paced, rather gripping story, but the subplots and some of the characterizations detract from the overall package. Beautiful attorney Sharon Hays has a new job with Russell Black, ``firm of jaw and rugged of countenance'' and a new client, 16-year-old Midge Rathermore. ``She seemed mentally only a baby, and not a particularly bright one at that, a grossly obese little girl whom the system was about to decide was a mature and remorseless killer.'' It is now up to Sharon and Russell to prove that pathetic Midge acted in self-defense to save herself and her sister from her father's continued sexual abuse when she bribed young men to murder him. Whirling about this perfectly good premise is the subplot of a crazed sexual psychopath, Bradford Brie, who is out to get Sharon and her 11-year-old daughter. Like annoying black flies on a beautiful summer afternoon, this complication derails and muddies the main story and even perverts the genuine character of Sharon Hays. In her response to Brie's harassments, Sharon loses credibility by reacting in ways which are not at all consistent with the character Gregory has labored so hard to develop. It's a shame, because the main story bravely clips along and even provides a few surprises and twists that make it a worthwhile tale. Gregory shows real promise as a novelist. It's just not quite realized in In Self Defense. (Jan.)