A WILDERNESS OF MONKEYS

'I'm looking...' the man announced in deep, melodramatic tones, 'for a man who cares about the truth.'"" Thus spake Jacques Gariura, M.D., a dedicated general practitioner of Syrian extraction -- prolix, philosophical, and fiercely humanistic -- petitioning maverick lawyer Will Barrett for help. And help he needs. Gariura had some years ago set up a clinic in Leesburg, Virginia, with three other doctors. Disgusted with his colleagues' dereliction, he threatened to leave the clinic and set up one of his own. But his colleagues feared he would take most of the patients with him, so they spread the word throughout Leesburg that Gariura was overworked, incompetent, and mentally ill. It is the job of Will Barrett to prove that Jacques Gariura has been slandered. He goes to Leesburg, uncovers abortion, miscegenation, and adultery. He precipitates a suicide, sheds a mistress, mixes it up pretty good with the ladies, and in the process wins his case... Paige Mitchell has a mildly interesting story to tell, but is unfortunately one of those writers given to charting every automobile route (there's an inordinate amount of driving here), describing each Civil War monument, counting cigarette butts, and qualifying most verbs. Over-written, melodramatic, and inhabited by stock characters.