Tangled June

While many PIs find that cases often prod them into investigations of their own character, Philadelphia's David Garrett (The January Corpse; Appointment in May) is propelled by his assistant, Lisa Wilson, into an overt investigation of his own hidden history. Dave was raised in a Jewish family, none of whose other members resembles him in any way. The hospital records of his birth vanished in a fire; his mother left her home in Chicago for California for an extended trip during her pregnancy; and his mother's sister Rachel fell into a coma at about the same time. Lisa is a transsexual, and she and Dave are caught in an on-again, off-again relationship. At Lisa's urging, they travel to California to find Dave's birth mother, having concluded that he was adopted or switched. Albert lets Dave and Lisa take turns narrating. Dave is mostly taciturn and initially uninterested; Lisa's sections are bluntly sexual, and her tone is repeatedly reproachful as she forces her lover to face his demons. When she isn't awash in horny thoughts, Lisa psychoanalyzes the two of them to death, and poor Dave never seems very happy, especially when he finally discovers the truth. But there are nice touches here, including a cameo by Les Roberts's series sleuth, Saxon. The pace is leisurely, occasionally slowing to sluggish. The solution, however, is slick and credible and likely to convince most readers that it is worth the wait. (July)