The Wanting

As Thomas Altman, Black wrote macabre novels including Kiss Daddy Goodbye; the theme of this book is also horror. Unfortunately, the characters and incidents aren't quite credible. The setting is a prosperous tourist town in northern California. The death of six children since 1899 is a secret guarded by the leading citizens, who discourage questions about the tragedies from young Sheriff Metger. He had seen the most recent victim of progeriapremature agingand suspects the rare disease as the covered-up cause of the earlier deaths. Readers are aware that the elderly couple named Summers, at home in the woods outside town, have been rejuvenating themselves by absorbing the children's vital forces. When Max Untermeyer and his wife Louise arrive with their son Dennis, 12, it's obvious that the old demons welcome their new neighbors. The Untermeyers' plans for a peaceful vacation from the city becomes a nightmare, ending with a bloody confrontation between Louise and the Summers. Metger has learned the truth but not in time and Dennis seems doomed. The sprawling narrative suggests that a firm editorial hand would have made a better story. 25,000 first printing; $25,000 ad/promo. (July 28pMAUD GONE Kathleen Rockwell Lawrence. Atheneum, $16.95 ISBN 0-689-11643-8 THE BARTHOLOMEW FAIR MUR