Large Target

Full-figured investigator Josephine Fuller, who looks into charities for her philanthropist employer, finds herself embroiled in kidnapping and murder in her second, darker outing (after Larger Than Death). When her San Diego patron, Alicia Madrone, asks Jo to look into how Amy Russo, daughter of an old friend, is involved in the spurious-sounding Feather Heart Project, Jo expects the assignment to be simple. But she realizes otherwise after meeting Amy's lascivious, retired admiral father and his two buddies and keepers, as well as Amy's Bible-thumping, career navy brother, her chess-genius daughter and her biology professor husband. When the admiral is abducted and one of his buddies is found dead, Jo begins to piece together the subtleties of Amy's family relationships. As Jo hears of missing secret military records and of the admiral's abysmal treatment of his children, she wonders if the perpetrators aren't those nearest to him. Because it opens with Jo grieving over the death of her best friend and dwells on the affairs of a dysfunctional family, this story will disappoint those expecting a witty, lighthearted mystery like Larger Than Death; overcomplicated, it may disappoint others as well. Agent, Michele G. Rubin at Writer's House. (Apr.)