The Lion at the Door

Thornburg, the author of eight previous novels including the bestselling To Die in California and the highly praised Cutter and Bone , can be counted upon for a competent thriller. He delivers as expected in this latest outing, although at a pace that may be just a bit slow for some readers. Tom Kohl is a man down on his luck--he's lost his wife, both his parents and the family farm in recent months, and is trying to put his life back together while staying with his cousin Ken in Seattle. Ken has problems of his own, including his deteriorating relationship with his girlfriend Diane, a beautiful yuppie realtor. Problems increase after Ken kills a mobster in a hit-and-run automobile accident and Tom tries to help him cover it up. Before it's all over, several more people are dead and Tom is forced to resolve his complicated feelings for Diane and cocktail waitress Bobbi, as well as to learn a great deal about his own resources and capabilities. Mystery Book Club alternate. (May)