THE HOT PLACE

Once again, gruff, golden-hearted venture-capitalist Ed Baer and his clever son and partner Warren have a murder to deal with--this time in the steam room of Long Island's Oakdale Country Club, to which they both belong. Time and setting limit the suspects to very few--of whom Warren and the club's spa operator Bill Carey are the chief ones. Barney Brodsky, the victim, was cordially hated by many, but Ed has to track down a motive strong enough for murder to get his son off the hook. Meanwhile, there's more than one ever wanted to know about golf clubs, spas, and venture capitalism. Over-elaborate plot and overdone Yiddishisms executed in repetitive, talky slow motion. Disappointing after The Dead Room (1987), first of this series.