On a Par with Murder

The Shinnecock Hills golf course on Long Island is the perfect backdrop for Logue's fifth installment (after Follow the Leader) in his Morris and Sullivan mystery series. Attending the 1995 U.S. Open, the journalist duo is immediately caught up in the excitement surrounding Buddy Morrow, golf's latest phenom. Despite unscrupulous agents, manufacturer's reps and a bloodthirsty press all vying for his attention, Morrow manages to keep his cool, tie for second-round lead in the Open and sign a $2-million deal with a sporting goods company. When Morrow turns up dead that night, the list of suspects is long--and the shocking secret about his true identity is revealed. The sheriff considers the case closed after Morrow's wife commits suicide, but John Morris and Julia Sullivan suspect her death was no confession and so begin their own investigation. Despite Logue's heavy dose of golf terminology, trivia and history--which will be appreciated by golf fans but may distract other readers--this is a clever, racy mystery. (Feb.)