Hauptkommissar Jens Müller of the Berlin Police, another in a long line of independently wealthy souls opting for a career in law enforcement, must investigate a series of what appear to be racially motivated murders in the latest workmanlike thriller from British author Savarin (Starfire, etc.). The only hitch is that Müller's superior, Heinz Kaltendorf, who would love to see Müller fail and have the failure recorded publicly, has assigned American journalist Carey Bloomfield to accompany him. Müller is a suave, intelligent, noble lawman; Bloomfield a beautiful, dangerous, mysterious gal with her own agenda. And the killer they're pursuing has surprising plans of his own. Savarin's lead characters are sketched in bold colors, and so are such supporting characters as Müller's chain-smoking assistant, Pappenheim, and Müller's customized Porsche, which would do James Bond proud. An entertaining war of wits keeps the plot rolling along as Müller, on the road through Germany with Bloomfield, spars with an ingenious and resourceful enemy. Müller and Bloomfield regard each other with growing admiration and attraction, but no lessening of distrust. Some adverbitis ("Müller began warningly... insisted firmly... added testily..."), a tendency toward distracting polemics and a somewhat lame ending mar an otherwise engaging narrative full of cinematic potential. (Nov.)
