Four Steps to Death

Set in the small, inbred Manhattan ballet community, this absorbing mystery is filled with esoterica that only occasionally slow the pace. On the morning after a party in her studio loft, dance teacher Maggie Tremayne wakes up to find the body of Nina Langlander, her best friend and rival, on the studio floor. Nina has been skewered to death, and Maggie, who is the prime suspect--the murder weapon and the premises are hers, and her longstanding quarrel with Nina is well-known--realizes that the murderous act was aimed at her also. Although Det. Tagliaferro seems to have an open mind about her possible guilt, Maggie must find the link in Nina's and her shared past in order to identify the killer. Not always sympathetic or likable, Maggie is a memorable character whose integrity remains intact despite personal battles and disappointments. (Jan.)