Burn

Lutz's Florida PI Fred Carver, with his bum leg and failed marriage, appears for the ninth time (following Torch) in a brisk, riveting adventure. Successful developer and contractor Joel Brant is accused of stalking a woman he says he doesn't know. Carver, not totally convinced by Brant's story, starts probing into Marla Cloy's apparently dull life. By the lethal, realistically ambiguous ending (no neatly wrapped answers here), Carver has uncovered a sad tale of twisted revenge, unrequited love and dark family secrets. He's also been attacked three times by a giant cretin, a truly terrifying character who's trying to stop the investigation, although Carver doesn't know who the giant's employer is. Middle-aged Carver must also deal with his black lover Beth's pregnancy and the still nasty police Lieutenant McGregor--who refers to Beth as ``dark meat.'' Lutz's eye for Florida noir (fast food joints, trailer parks and ``local criminals'' who ``view tourists as game animals'') is impeccable. It's easy to see why he's won an Edgar and two Shamuses: this is top of the line. (Mar.)