cover image Pray for Us Sinners

Pray for Us Sinners

Philip Luber. Fawcett Books, $5.99 (294pp) ISBN 978-0-449-18329-8

Psychiatrist Harry Kline is back in the third book of Luber's ""Our Father"" series (Forgive Us Our Sins; Deliver Us from Evil) with Veronica Pace, an FBI agent and Kline's lover. Her mother was murdered while Veronica watched in helpless terror; 20 years later, Veronica is determined to find her mother's killer--and despite his misgivings, Harry agrees to help. Meanwhile, Harry is struggling with the death of his wife seven years earlier, Veronica's place with him and his daughter, and the reluctance of Veronica's family friend to resume treatment for manic depression (to which Luber's psychiatric training lends extra authenticity). While his characterization is slightly uneven at times, Luber handles these threads so deftly that he never loses the tempo of the plot. And surprisingly, it is not the climax--though solid enough--of the main story line, but the resolution of Kline's personal conflicts that are the most captivating. (Feb.)