Bomber Bombs: The Ninth Bomber Hanson Mystery

Champion's lighthearted ninth Bomber Hanson mystery (after 2005's To Die For) finds the bombastic California attorney and his diffident son, Tod, tackling the defense of 10 Cal Southern football players, all black, accused of raping stripper Mimi Parquette, also black, at a stag party that got out of hand. When attempts by Clarence Dixon, head of Cal's booster club, to buy off the plaintiff fail, he turns to Bomber, who, despite his disdain for football, decides to accept the case. Bomber's nemesis, Judge Sean McKorkle, stymies him at every turn in court until Bomber collapses. McKorkle, prosecutor Web Granger, and the defendants press Tod to take over, despite his inexperience and unwillingness to do so. It's do or die for Tod, who holds the fate of the 10 players and, perhaps, the Cal Southern coach and team in his sweating hands. Tod's courtroom performance proves unorthodox, amusing, and effective. (Nov.)