Trophy Wife

With this fast-paced, glittery mix of mystery and romance, newcomer Lange gives Judith Krantz a run for her money. Laden with powerful politicians, glamorous movie stars and trendy Los Angeles hot spots, the narrative bristles with insider detail and gossip. Devin Yorke, the unloved Bel Air ``trophy wife'' of clothing tycoon Paul Bradshaw, has decided to get a divorce-a wish that ironically comes true when Paul is shot to death. The police think Devin may have pulled the trigger; also under suspicion are Paul's rejected mistress, Alex; his envious, ineffectual brother, Sam; and Billy Hilgarde, an African American who works in a slum-area factory owned by Bradshaw. Devin, trying to regain her self-esteem through the kind of independence and success she once enjoyed, takes control of the factory, improving working conditions and enhancing the clothing line even as she copes with hostility from Paul's family and trickery by Sam and Alex, who have joined forces. She also begins a love affair with a lawyer/workout expert, but suspicions threaten to derail it permanently. A second murder, revelations of fraud by Paul and vigorous servings of sex propel the plot toward a conclusion that should satisfy readers as much as the rest of this lively, knowing tale. Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club alternates. (June)