THE ENTHUSIAST

Hill's mismatched detectives--grizzled lowbrow Bob Staunton and glib, rakish highbrow Leo Wyndsor--remain a distinctively engaging Scotland Yard duo, but this time Hill has given them that least satisfying of murder cases: a motiveless psyche's multiple slayings. The killer--whom we watch in action--is a trained sniper, rejected by the army for excessive bloodthirstiness, who now stalks the Welsh hills and farms, proving his skills on randomly chosen passersby. The police legwork, crammed with red herrings (like a loathsome motorcycle-gang of thieves), is sturdy, but the only real grab here is in swinging Leo's first true romance: a strong, special, virginal Welsh lass who nearly becomes the sniper's last victim--and ultimately gives Leo up when she sees him kill. A suspensefully contrived climax, good lean character studies; but nothing for those who require a puzzle.