Snipers

The theme of this lackluster thriller from Rusch (G-Men) is time travel undertaken here to change history for the better. The book raises the familiar ethical and logical dilemmas involved in altering the past. In 2005, author Sofie Branstadter devotes herself to identifying the so-called Carnival Sniper, a murderer who struck in 1913 in Vienna. Since her parents were also killed by an unknown gunman, she has a personal reason for solving the cold case. When she gets the corpse of one of the victims disinterred, she finds an unusual bullet that she hopes will lead her to the truth. Alternate chapters describe the goings-on in 1913 as a series of men who shaped the course of 20th century history are gunned down one by one. Anton Runge, whose great-grandfather was in charge of the Carnival Sniper case, aids Sofie in her search. While Anton starts out hostile to the writer based on a book she wrote about the murders, few readers will be surprised by how their relationship changes. (July)