A quasi ""suspense novel"" about writing a crime documentary as schizzy Anthon Bendix -- on coffee, pills, whiskey and unconfined spleen -- broods over his next book which will be about murder -- the murder he will commit as Bang (the name he is assuming) of Nadja and/or Nana (whom he loved) and about Straus, his rival. Bendix refers to himself as Denmark's second-best crime writer whereas Bodelsen (Think of a Number) is referred to as this country's first -- by the publisher. Forget the ratings -- it's a tedious diddle.