The Bone Orchard

The corrupt underbelly of Manhattan in both high and low circles provides the setting for this compelling crime novel debut, the first in a projected series. The murder of a male stripper at an exclusive East Side club leads detective Alvin Yablonsky from the mean streets of the East Village to the exalted realm of the U.N. diplomatic corps. Yablonsky learns that the victim moonlighted as a high-level prostitute, specializing in servicing prominent women whose names he'd found in soft-core porn publications. When a friend and colleague of the first victim is also murdered, there is increased pressure to solve the highly publicized case. Yablonsky, who has his own troubles--he is being investigated by the department 's Internal Affairs division because of his penchant for eating at top restaurants on the cuff--compounds them by falling in love with one of the suspects, punk rock star Suzy Creamcheese, a client of the victims. Then Latin American diplomat Emile Suarez, a kingpin in the large-scale looting of his native land by its dictator, tries to compromise the detective in the most affable way. The conclusion is chilling and true to life. Painting New York in dark and gloomy colors, Trigoboff, a poet and the author of the novel Abu , creates a disturbing and involving tale. ( Apr. )