cover image Skid

Skid

Maud Farrell. Dutton Books, $16.95 (209pp) ISBN 978-0-525-24767-8

A potentially interesting heroine joining the ranks of amateur female sleuths is Violet Childs, a beautiful bisexual, New York-based photographer, whose passions include food and fashion. Unfortunately, Farrell's crisply written debut is marred by an outlandish plot, a cast of stereotypical characters and a litany of anti-male remarks that quickly grows tiresome. Violet's father, Victor, a private detective, has been murdered. But the police department is making no headway in finding his killer. Violet begins her own investigation, enlisting the aid of Max, a numbers runner who often worked for Victor. After Max leaves a cryptic message on her answering machine, Violet discovers his corpse in her office; later that day, someone tries to shoot her. Violet then receives a package from Max containing her father's files, articles about and photographs of entrepreneur John Maxwell Yardley, and a mysterious recording. These unrelated clues lead Violet to a posh mental hospital where, becoming an inmate, she discovers startling information concerning her father and shocking research into reproduction. Violet deserves a better adventure next time. (July)