Morse's Greatest Mystery

Dexter (The Daughters of Cain) demonstrates his absolute mastery of the art of plotting in these 11 short stories, six of which feature Inspector Morse. Morse fans might fear that, by confining the Thames Valley investigator to the short form, Dexter risks losing all that irascible interplay between the beer-swilling snob of a copper and his dogged subordinate, Lewis. Not to worry. In the title story, Morse's heretofore unrecognized largesse is put to the test when the Christmas charity collection at a local pub is pilfered. In another, a car is borrowed and the owner receives a charming letter and an opera ticket. All these stories are powered by such ruthlessly cunning plot lines that the reader is quickly tipped the wink and finds himself or herself feverishly striving to second-guess the sleuth. In one non-Morse story, ``At the Lulu-Bar Motel,'' Dexter spins an elaborate plot but struggles to create all-American con men, but another Morseless yarn, ``Evans Tries an O-Level,'' is a terrific prison-break tale. Watching Dexter--and Morse--work in constricted space is great, challenging fun. (Dec.)