Long Chain of Death

The small town of Ridgefield, Ind., is rocked when three murders are committed in one week: the beautiful wife of a high school teacher, the captain of the school's football team and his cheerleader girlfriend all die mysteriously. Police Lieutenant Phil Decker blames David Brett, the teacher whose wife has just been killed, for the three homicides, and Brett runs for his life in an attempt to save his skin by finding the real murderer. Brett's investigations take him to Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, and he uncovers a bizarre vendetta that reaches back more than 40 years. Readers will be both pleased and annoyed with this first novel: while the plot is fast paced, intricate, clever and exciting, the writing is littered with cliches and the characters' emotions are forced and unreal. Ultimately, however, the book's virtues outweigh its defects, and one looks forward to future mysteries from Wolf. (May 6)