Who's Next?

Over the last 20 years, Baxt ( A Queer Kind of Death ) has always had a light touch, but this book reaches new heights of levity, if not silliness. Jethro Clay is devastated by the death of his beautiful, ballerina daughter Vanessa when tycoon Medwin Patton deliberately runs her down in his car. Maddened by Patton's hangers-on, who testify that it was an accident, Clay goes on a murderous rampage. Aided by Patton's estranged wife Lilith, he devises a series of ``clever'' murders (e.g., a choreographer loses his legs) that will eradicate the toadies. Under the very noses of two clever NYPD detectives, the killings culminate in an almost-clean getaway for lovers Clay and Lilith, with a twist ending in Africa. Among the problems of this disappointing caper are paper-thin characters and an unbelievable plot; the suspense is further vitiated by labored mayhem and feeble wisecracks. (Dec.)