Blood Orange: A Mystery

This action-packed, high-seas adventure captures the essence of world-class yacht racing: drama, suspense and romance. Llewellyn ( Dead Reckoning ) adds a liberal dose of mayhem and murder to produce a riveting thriller that will captivate mariners and landlubbers alike. Alan Burton and James Dixon are aboard Ed Boniface's trimaran, Street Express , when it founders on rocks off the Irish coast. Ed and James survive the disaster but Alan, a novice sailor, is feared drowned. While investigators suspect Ed, who is in debt, of sabotaging his boat for the insurance money, he believes that Alan cut the anchor loose. But James has his own problems. He must win all the upcoming races or lose his own catamaran and his business as well. Hoping to obtain a sponsor, James attends a party aboard a chartered yacht where he spots Alan working as a crewman. The latter flees before James can talk to him; a short time later, James finds Alan's body. When another of James's friends has a boating accident, he stumbles across a clue that points to murder rather than mishap. With his own life in jeopardy, James uncovers a blackmail scheme which eventually leads him to the killer. Llewellyn's deftly navigated story is a winner from start to finish. Mysterious Book Club selection. (Apr.)