Serious Intent: A Novel of Suspense

Fatherless boys-some of whom yield to bad company, others to good influence-give British writer Yorke's latest a strong emotional dimension. Self-reliant Mark lives with his unmarried mother; angry, thieving Steve with his widowed stepmother. Together they while away afternoons with aged invalid Tom Morton at his home, The Willows. Up the road at Merrifields lives Richard Gardner, a generous man of great patience, with his abusive, manic-depressive wife, Verity, and her sons, vulnerable Terry and tough, rude Justin. As village incidents of vandalism, arson and burglary escalate, each of the boys falls under suspicion. When Tom dies, homely retired spinster Marigold Darwin buys his house. Here Yorke's trademark suspense kicks in: Alan, the man Tom raised as a son, has completed a prison sentence for his wife's murder and finds he is disinherited. Determined to dig up his murder weapon under the shed at The Willows so he can start a new life in crime, Alan nurses his rage, and it's only a matter of time before he claims a new victim. Yorke works a subtle psychological study of bad behavior, yet leaves the reader free to root for the triumphs of those who choose to act decently. Mystery Guild featured alternate. (Apr.)