Act of Darkness — Jane Haddam

IT'S THE FOURTH OF JULY AND SOMEONE IS PLANNING AN ALL-AMERICAN MURDER

Former FBI agent Gregor Demarkian finds that WI play is as American as apple pie and the Fourth of July. Duty calls him to a swank Long Island manse where presidential hopeful Stephen Whistler Fox is treating a few of his best-heeled friends to patriotic pâté, festive finger foods -- and death.

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS. BUT IS THE GAME WORTH THE (ROMAN) CANDLE?

Figure that among Stephen Fox's guests you'll find a double handful of his girlfriends -- past and present. Add his Machiavellian campaign staffers, a jealous wife, a hostile mother-in-law, and the Bureau's former ace investigator. Mix with a few warm corpses, and toss in a few cool customers. For Stephen Fox, the fireworks are just beginning.