Murder at City Hall

He's rested, he tanned, he's back--and he's the mayor for life! So begins this unexpectedly lifeless series launch, written by and starring the former New York City mayor, in collaboration with Resnicow (The Golden Solution). The bidding is about to begin on the Muni Railroad Yard, promising a boom for real estate developers. Karl Krieg, sleaze extraordinaire who heads the list of potential buyers, is stabbed to death at City Hall Chapel, where Koch is officiating at a friend's wedding. Hizzoner lines up the suspects: the mother of the bride, who's been stiffed out of $2 million by the victim; the widow Krieg, now just a penniless ex-showgirl; a man who was taken for $600,000 by Krieg; a couple who desperately need the Muni Project to avoid bankruptcy; and a city commissioner (and ex-Israeli commando) with an ethical grudge to bear. Except for a brilliant performance by Koch's omniscient, wisecracking father, this colorless mystery has absolutely no New York flavor or energy--it could have taken place in Hartford. Koch, who likes to brag ``I don't get headaches; I give headaches'' lives up to his word here. Author tour. (Oct.)