cover image A Civil Death

A Civil Death

John William Corrington, Joyce H. Corrington. Viking Books, $15.95 (245pp) ISBN 978-0-670-81490-9

The Corringtons focus on the stratified classes of New Orleans for the third time in the sequel to their praised So Small a Carnival and A Project Named Desire. Related by Denise Lemoyne, assistant district attorney, situations arise that wholly absorb her and estimable detective ""Rat'' Trapp, as well as other characters from the earlier thrillers. Denise breaks up with her lover, crusading reporter West Colvin, when he bases an expose of corrupt officials on information from a mob killer, out on bail. There seems no connection to the murder of the attorney's cousin Madeline St. Juste, both of whom were born into the ``Uptown'' elite, unlike Madeline's husband Rene, a Cajun. He's the presumed murderer, but the case ramifies into gothic proportions, involving Denise in a fight for her life, before the authors sort out the conflicts. Their mystery should satisfy fans although it's a bit too byzantine for credibility and the dialogue is often difficult to follow. (September 17)