A Victim Must Be Found

Acclaimed Canadian mystery writer Engel presents another winner about disarmingly honest Benny Cooperman, private investigator of Grantham, Ontario ( A City Called July , The Ransom Game ). Pambos Kiriakis is killed after he asks the detective to find a vital record, possibly stolen. This is a list of prominent citizens who borrowed paintings from the late art dealer, Arthur Tallon. Tallon had given the list to Pambos who offered it to the dealer's executors so they could collect the works on loan and settle the estate. Now lacking a client, Benny accepts an assignment from one of the borrowers, Jonah Abraham, when he is cleared of suspicion of theft and murder. The investigation turns to Alex Favell and Peter McCullough, whose wife Mary is having an affair with Favell, and on othersone of whom realizes too late the mistake of underrating Benny's detecting skills. The story as told by the disarming hero deepens the reader's belief in him as a real person. (Oct.)