cover image Fatal Recall

Fatal Recall

DeForest Day. Carroll & Graf Publishers, $18.95 (281pp) ISBN 978-0-88184-681-2

The third Chase Defoe novel sends the former naval intelligence officer back to his parents' home for the funeral of general Harmon Kilgallen, neighbor of the senior Defoes and father of Chase's childhood sweetheart, Kit. At first it appears that Kilgallen killed himself after burning notes for a manuscript he'd been working on with Kit's daughter. But tapes found among Kilgallen's effects contain evidence that the general was murdered. When the tapes--as well as carbons of the manuscript--are discovered to be missing, Chase and Kit investigate and soon become embroiled in a deadly struggle with those who would not hesitate to kill again in order to protect their secrets. Although Day ( A Cold Killing ) exhibits an unerring ability to build suspense, occasional overwriting and a device of repeating chosen paragraphs detract from his fine plotting. (July)