A Mystery Medley

When Craig Holden's first book, "The River Sorrow," was published, it carried an impressive quote by James Ellroy, which was good enough for me.

Although I thought it terrific in many ways, especially stylistically, I'm not a huge fan of drug books. I think drug addicts, like drunks, are boring, and those who feed their habit have a character range that runs the gamut from A to B, as was once (unfairly) said of Katharine Hepburn's acting range. Drug dealers are rarely candidates for Rhodes scholarships, and they are morally bankrupt, so I derive little pleasure in being in their literary company.

Far better is "The Jazz Bird," set in the 1920s and based on a real-life crime that captivated the nation. George Remus was a successful bootlegger (though not as famous as Al Capone) who Frank Dodge, a reputedly incorruptible Bureau of Prohibition agent, captured and sent to the penitentiary for three years.

While he's away, his wife liquidates Remus's assets and begins an affair with Dodge. Not surprisingly, this does not please the usually nonviolent Remus, who shoots and kills her upon his release, setting the stage for a notable trial, fictionalized only slightly by Mr. Holden.

His most recent book, "Matala" (Simon & Schuster, 180 pages, $22), appears to have been released under the official secrets act. No reviews, no advance notice, just suddenly on the shelf. As seems to be his career goal, Mr. Holden has again written a novel unlike anything he has written previously. A good thing for the artistic soul, but maybe not so good for finding and retaining a readership.

This one, though relatively short, offers more twists than a Chubby Checker retrospective. Darcy Arlen, a lovely young American from a wealthy family, is given a six-week tour of Europe as a high school graduation gift. In practically no time, she grows bored with museums and ruins, so she leaves the tour group to take a walk, where she meets a good-looking young man.

Attracted to him, but even more eager for adventure, she buys him dinner and agrees to meet him at his hostel for a night out. She soon learns that he has been hooked up with a cynical older woman for a couple of years. As a pair of grifters, they see her as an easy target for scams, but find that Darcy is more than willing to give them money, buy them drinks and train tickets, and generally fall in line with whatever schemes they have in mind.

Moving from Rome to Venice and finally to Crete, the three adventurers learn that none of them can trust either of the others as alliances are formed and broken, lies flourish, betrayal becomes commonplace, and lives are at risk.

The three characters are powerfully drawn, and there is the ever-growing sense of suspense that thrives when it is impossible to know what will happen next, or who will do what to whom. The inability to predict who will betray the other is equally true sexually, as there are rapidly shifting loyalties in that arena as well — graphically illustrated. Be warned.

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Edward D. Hoch, who was given the Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement by the Mystery Writers of America in 2001, died of a heart attack last week; he was 77 years old.

In an era in which the detective short story became a rara avis, Hoch was a prolific producer of that most demanding form, writing more than 900 stories in a career that began a little more than a half-century ago. His first published story appeared in Famous Detective Stories in 1955, but it is his alliance with Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine that is of historic significance.

The May 1973 issue of EQMM began an unbroken string of appearances that has approached 35 years without missing a single issue. About 450 of his stories have appeared in the pages of the most successful mystery magazine of all time. Hoch's stories relied on the old-fashioned notion of observation and deduction, with cerebral elements taking center stage. Violence, sex, obscenity, and gutter life were not to be found in his work. While he was not a notably original stylist, his stories were beloved partly because of the clarity of his prose, the mind-bending puzzles he created, and a notable collection of series characters who were intelligent and kindly, reflecting the author's own personality.

Mr. Penzler is the proprietor of the Mysterious Bookshop in Manhattan, and the series editor of the annual "Best American Mystery Stories." He can be reached at ottopenzler@mysteriousbookshop.com