Fine Lines

Lehrer's gabby, smartass characters, who are also possessed of depth and originality, will continue to delight those who've read the PBS newscaster's earlier One-eyed Mack mysteries. The pleasure of readers new to the series may be enhanced by surprise. Except for the passing mention of someone named MacNeil, Lehrer leaves off his TV hat to delve into the deep and dirty heart of politics in Oklahoma, where Mack is Lieutenant Governor. When four members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, all Democrats, die in suspiciously quick succession, Mack is soon on the case, his sleuthing only slightly distracted by his entrepreneurial wife Jackie's winning a coveted award and his enterprising stepson Tommy's scheme to power diesel vehicles with a combination of methanol and fast-food grease. The politicians are done in in different ways, but all die after an about-face on a sensitive issue--about which a secretive local millionaire would rather they hadn't changed their minds. Lehrer has infectious fun with his cast of fast-food junkies and conniving politicians, among whom such real folks as violinist Isaac Stern, mystery writer and poet Stephen Dobyns and Henry Kissinger's wife keep popping up. Author tour. (June)