Murders and Acquisitions

St. Martin’s vice president Dunne’s first novel since 1978’s The Scourge is an entertaining satirical thriller centered on a wealthy family’s power plays following the death of their patriarch. The passing of 95-year-old Werther Maybach Meyer, CEO of media conglomerate Omnium and a “powerful and respected figure in finance, real estate, and white-collar crime,” dominates headlines. Though Werther’s dealings have set up his surviving family for at least another century, his death stirs up mischief nonetheless. Randy Littlewood feels good about his decision to seduce and marry Werther’s granddaughter, Greta Meyer, when she walks away with the biggest share of Omnium. He plans to use Greta’s newfound leverage to catapult himself up the ladder of Manhattan society and take over the company. Greta’s poor cousin, Betty Maybach, who served as Werther’s secretary before his death, opposes Randy’s schemes, but she starts to rethink her relationship to her dead grandfather when she makes some disturbing discoveries in his files. Dunne casts a wide net, complementing the clash between Betty and Randy with the mysterious deaths of several Maybachs across the globe, but he maintains masterful control of the book’s complex plot and tongue-in-cheek tone. The result is a trenchant and suspenseful family saga. (Apr.)