Another Path, Another Dragon

Texas private eye Dan Roman (From a High Place, et al.) is called to a small East Texas town by police chief Ward Bannion, an old buddy from Vietnam. Ward's 19-year-old nephew and the nephew's girlfriend have been murdered. The situation is complicated by the fact that the victims' fathers have been carrying on a 30-year feud with each other. Dan arranges a truce and starts digging. He is surprised to find a large segment of the ``nice'' kids in town heavily involved in hard drugs, and it looks as though Ward's nephew was a major supplier. Then the feud threatens to erupt again and Dan even worries about Ward's honesty. The ending, involving a crooked cop, bastardy, fratricide and more than a touch of madness, is bleak with a twist. Dan Roman is an appealing narrator-hero, the small-town Texas background rings true and Mathis has a smooth, economical style. (June)