MURDER NEEDS A FACE

Murder in a housing development (perhaps Knickerbocker Village?) which implicates a retired puppeteer, his daughter carrying on his tradition, an ex-vaudeville team, a nightclub singer and her blind father, a carpenter and his hated wife. An unrecognized corpse creates consternation -- and all are suspect as Detective Sergeant Nelson meets total obsourity in his investigation. Another killing takes place and some clues lead back. Sammy (of Murder Needs a Name) lends a helping hand, and Nelson unearths the past and gets his criminal. Better than average for decorative writing, and not too mechanical characters, though the plot seems over complex.