Free Fall

Narrator-PI Elvis Cole (last seen in Lullaby Town ) is back, wisecracking but caring and the very model of a modern L.A. tec: he likes Nicoise salads, Evian water and yoga; he says ``Sure'' a lot. Secretary Jennifer Sheridan--young, pretty and a bit prim--asks Cole to find out what's troubling her fiance Mark, a member of an elite LAPD undercover squad, who has become withdrawn and won't talk about his work. Elvis skeptically takes the case and is immediately warned off by Mark, who says he's seeing another woman. Although a brief investigation seems to prove this, when Cole breaks the news to stalwart Jennifer, she convinces him to dig deeper. He uncovers a possible wrongful-death case against Mark's team that leads to complications, including the framing of Cole and his Rambo-like partner Pike on a murder-and-drug rap. They break out of jail and begin a desperate fight against a vicious drug dealer, the LAPD and Mark's squad. Scriptwriter Crais ( L.A. Law , Hill Street Blues ) excells with both action scenes and characterization; this fast, intricate, very satisfying thriller should send new readers back to his earlier books. Major ad/promo. (June)