The Blue Notebook

In this ominously concentrated story, a small cluster of characters is pulled together by tightening circumstances as the avoidable leads inexorably to the unavoidable. From the vantage point of a stalled elevated train, the reptilian Armand catches sight of a nude Louise toweling off as she glides past her curtainless window, and he decides to attempt to bluff his way into her apartment--and into her bed. Capitalizing on her inexplicable amusement, he eventually achieves his goal before departing on a trip. Armand's introspective friend Victor also glimpses Louise in her post-shower glory, but he takes a more roundabout route to her, documenting his obsession in a journal. Discovering that Louise has taken up with Victor in his absence, Armand steals Victor's journal and sends it to her; when Armand turns up dead, Victor is held as the prime suspect. Enter Elena, who was in Armand's bed the night that Victor stormed over to confront him about his vengeful thievery. The technically skilled but unimaginative artwork--a combination of ink, watercolor and pencil shadowing; washed-out earth tones with vivid blacks, greens and blues--dovetails nicely with the voice of this quick, somewhat disturbing read that raises more interesting questions than it answers. (Dec.)