GRAVESTONE

From old-hand Carlson (Bad Blood, 1991, etc.), a new heroine to root for, Martine ``Marty'' Hopkins—a 29-year-old southern Indiana deputy sheriff who's not at all happy to be shunted off two Klan killings (a black school custodian, and a white Jewish musician married to a black woman) to deal with brain-tumor-addled Judge Denton's hallucination that someone is out to kill him. Also on the Judge's lips: the fate of Phyllis, his 12-year-old daughter, who disappeared ten years ago. When hints from a university professor lead to the discovery of Phyllis's body in barely accessible limestone caves, and a Klan calling card is found with her body, Marty finds herself working both cases. To the chagrin of Sheriff Wes Cochran, the FBI is called in—and another Klan marker turns up at the home of Alma Willison, who's disappeared. The sheriff is hospitalized with heart trouble; the FBI is bamboozled by the locals; the Judge dies; and Marty again reconnoiters the caves—and (very gently) confronts an avenging murderer. Sharply drawn characters, from the rich folk to the good ol' boys to Marty's daughter Chrissie, and strong plotting make for fine reading—and a welcome first in a series.