The Moons of Summer

Set in the small town of Colson, Kans., Epperson's ( Borderland ) tale of a loony town mortician who systematically murders people in order to keep his business afloat is more funny than horrifying. Hoping to spend more time with his troubled, motherless 16-year-old daughter Adele, Guy Driscoll gives up his job as managing editor of a major Chicago newspaper to become a general assignment reporter for the Colson Beacon . But the Driscolls get off to a bad start: Adele begins an affair with the reclusive next-door neighbor, a man more than twice her age, and Guy makes an enemy of officer (Mrs.) Michael Bish through a newspaper article. Then Adele is shot dead by someone intent on framing Michael, and father and cop combine forces to try to solve the mystery. The tale is neatly if busily plotted with Guy falling in love with Michael and the gun-happy undertaker finding a comrade in arms. The atmosphere is short on horror but the book is enjoyable as a suspenseful black comedy, a grotesque with a Midwest twist. (Feb.)