The Honor Farm

On Long Island, Vietnam vet and Nassau County cop Orin Boyd (returning from Exit Wounds) is still only a uniformed cop, largely because of his frank contempt for authority. Breaking up an apparent assault, Boyd knocks around crooked right-wing State Senator Tommy Cotton (aka ""Senator Sewer""). Cotton wants Boyd's head. But Police Commissioner David Trimble has a plan of his own: in exchange for Boyd copping a plea for assault, thus satisfying Cotton, and doing six months in the county's ""country club"" jail, he'll grant Boyd a gold shield--on the further condition that, while in jail, Boyd investigate the death of Trimble's son, who allegedly hanged himself with one day left in an 18-month sentence. Shortly after Boyd's arrival at the ""farm,"" there's another ""suicide"" and the surfacing of many motley suspects. The top con there, an ex-PBA leader looking for Boyd's legendary stash of ill-gotten money, begins a computer campaign to dry up Boyd's bank accounts and to frame his wife for embezzlement. Boyd's boat is sunk, his house is torched and his wife and little daughter are stalked by a hit man. Westermann, who worked 20 years as a Long Island cop, brings plenty of colorful detail to the novel and to Boyd, who's smart, funny and not above taking the law into his own hands. The pacing is relentless, and the uncovering of secrets old and new will keep readers glued as they're plunged into a Long Island that's way beyond Levittown. (Dec.)