Death at the Wheel

Thea Kozak, an educational consultant and amateur sleuth near Boston, returns in this humdrum third outing (after Chosen for Death and Death in a Funhouse Mirror) to investigate a suspicious death. Thea's overbearing mother introduces her to Julie Bass, whose controlling, philandering husband, Calvin, has just died in a race-car crash. Thea, whose own husband died in an automobile accident, is sympathetic and agrees to help when the police, having determined that Calvin's car was tampered with, arrest Julie on suspicion of murder. Thea quickly finds that the widow is not as innocent or helpless as she seems, and has had an affair with local doctor, Tom Durren. Thea switches her attentions from her hunky boyfriend, state trooper Andre Lemieux, to her job, and to dealing with the unpleasant characters connected to the case, especially Julie's violent redneck brother Duncan. Since the unsavory Calvin had lots of enemies, the list of suspects is long, and following it leads Thea into a life-threatening roadside confrontation with the killer. While Thea is likable, supporting cast members such as Andre and Duncan, are flat stereotypes. Despite Flora's tight pacing, the finale is disappointingly convenient. (Nov.)