The Isle of Fire Murder

What better place for a murder than a secluded beach community in Fire Island? What better victim than a handsome, young swimming and tennis coach beloved by all? And what finer sleuth than savvy, newly widowed Lily Lambert, who has time on her hands and an intimate knowledge of the colony's 22 families? Unfortunately, the families contain too many characters to be squeezed comfortably into one book. After meeting them all at once, seeing them on and off any number of ferry boats, trying to keep track of their keys, dogs, groceries and children while remembering who went to cocktails in Fair Harbor, who was bedding down with whom and who owned the red tricycle, the reader is so swamped with information that when the murderer's identity is revealed at last, it's doubtful whether anyone will even recall the face. Fewer details and better characterizations would have helped bring out the novel's good points. Lily herself is a charmer worth another meetingpreferably after Labor Day when the beach is less crowded. (June 7)