EXCEPTION TO MURDER

Ex-FBI man Mark Shigata, now police chief in Bayport, Texas, and his deputies Al Quinn and Steve Hansen (The Eye of Anna, 1990, etc.) find themselves beleaguered by the murders--a day apart--of Councilwoman Margaret Raskin and Ralph Miner, a local eccentric. The grisly remains are discovered in animal preserves inside Ark Park--the multimillion-dollar theme-park inspiration of oily TV evangelist Clifford Hobby. The only thing shared by the victims was their nosiness; the only real clue is some ivory jewelry found in Ruskin's handbag. Shigata is making little progress until his deputies disappear in the park one night--and he mounts a chase-and-rescue operation that uncovers a well-hidden secret and tests the mettle of Quinn's and Hansen's young sons. Pedestrian in the plotting but redeemed by Wingate's unpretentious style, warmly appealing central characters, and a zingy finish. Easygoing entertainment.