Skinhead

Responding to the deathbed summons of a nameless stranger, Jonathan, 19, leaves his wealthy grandfather's home and travels to Seattle. Upon his arrival, he discovers that the badly beaten man has died without revealing his identity. Then Jonathan meets Jenny, a beautiful girl who believes that the dead man was a victim of the Skinheads, a violent racist organization. When Jenny and Jonathan attempt to go to the police with this information, Jonathan is kidnapped by the Skinheads, who hold him captive while imparting their twisted ideology. After several chapters of lukewarm suspense, Jonathan escapes and learns the none-too-startling truth about the dead stranger's identity. One-dimensional characters and a predictable storyline lessen the impact of Bennett's timely subject matter. Though there are moments when the writing achieves the terse, spine-tingling tone for which it strives, it is more often choppy and cliche-ridden. Ages 12-up. (Apr.)