cover image French Kiss

French Kiss

Eric Van Lustbader. Fawcett Books, $6.99 (512pp) ISBN 978-0-449-21849-5

This hefty novel packs two grisly murders, a large cast of exotic characters, and settings that range from Connecticut to Indochina. Although the first two-thirds are entertaining, according to PW , afterwards Lustbader ``succumbs to windy philosophizing; the foolish heroics and cardboard characterization become irritating; and a gory, melodramatic ending is overlong.'' (Feb.)