White Flower

When brilliant computer analyst Russ Detweiller deserts his family and runs off with sexy Lily Lee, he leaves a vital software program in limbo. As projected, his work will enable authors of other programs to make them immune to piracya crime practiced regularly in Singapore. So it worries Detweiller's backer that Lily is Chinese-American, and he brings in PI James Marley to investigate. Enthralled with Lily, Detweiller is luxuriating on a tropical island and shrugs off Marley's warnings. But Marley's fears are confirmed back in Boston, where he's set upon by Chinese thugs. Hoping that it's not too late, Marley returns to the island and tries to save Detweiller and his program against terrible odds. Marley's second outing is a diverting, well-paced mystery with a tension-filled ending. (Feb.)