Passion Play

In this outstanding first novel, a murder in New York City appears linked to the suspicious death of a student at the Montpelier School for Boys a prep school in Virginia and the subsequent killing of two other boys. As sports practice and rehearsals for Othello are underway, young Thomas Boatwright captures the reader's heart. Wrestling with the dilemmas of lust vs. love, Thomas also tries to understand social issues, such as why his black roommate Greg Lipscomb prefers the role of Othello to guaranteed stardom in athletics. Playing a part in the drama himself, Thomas learns a hard lesson about human strengths and weaknesses, narrowly escaping the demented killer at the height of terrifying incidents. The author, chairman of the English department at a boys' school, skillfully creates a mystery superior to most, endowing teachers, teachers' wives, sports coaches, the boys and their girlfriends with an unforgettable reality. Mysterious Book Club selection. (Apr.)