From Publishers Weekly This weak effort from the author of Red Rosa and Cassandra in Red features Ford Morgan， who is hired by his former wife when her son is accused of shooting his father， ruthless and powerful Ralph Baliol. Drawn from his current home in Costa Rica， Ford travels to Montecito， Calif.， where his investigation leads him deep into the affairs (mostly sexual， and graphic) of the extended Baliol clan. This is a generic， noirish thriller， with a flaccid attempted murder scene， a sleazy victim with a sleazy， wastrel son and a hero whose lifestyle is so finely detailed that we even know the name of the microbrewery whose product he imbibes. Collins is usually a million times better than evidenced here， so skip this one and hold out instead for his next book with red in the title. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information， Inc. From Booklist Ford Morgan is a former CIA operative living the good--if somewhat dull--life in Costa Rica. His ex-wife needs help. Rachel Baliol--married to tycoon Ralph Baliol--says her son Johnny has been charged in the attempted murder of Ralph. Ford soon clears Johnny but stays on in Santa Barbara to find out who did try to kill Ralph. There are plenty of suspects， since Ralph makes a habit of screwing everyone with whom he works. Currently， he's acquired a logging company and， needing cash， has decided to clear-cut the land， making him a target for both his soon-to-be-unemployed workers and the local environmentalists. Author Collins is best known as the creator of Dan Fortune， the gloomy， one-armed private eye. Morgan is whole physically， but like Fortune， he fills his spiritual void with work. Collins is an Edgar winner and the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the Private Eye Writers of America. He continues his good work in this complex and rewarding mystery. Wes Lukowsky