Trick of Light by David Hunt (Signed) William Bayer

Kay Farrow, a colorblind photographer, roams San Francisco in search of clues to the death of her mentor, a photojournalist who mysteriously wandered into a netherworld of decadence. By the author of The Magician's Tale.

Too close to parody for comfort, Hunt's second novel is a sorely strained procedural set in San Francisco. After the hit-and-run death of mentor Maddy Yamada, San Francisco news photographer Kay Farrow tries to unravel what she considers suspicious circumstances. Her first clue is a house with a green door, but Farrow has achromatopsia (color blindness that renders what she sees shades of gray). This might have been ironic, but all irony is spent in the title. Clues in a roll of Yamada's undeveloped black-and-white film lead to a group of collectors of guns (inscribed with "erotic" drawings) who are involved in sexual violence and murder. Throughout, the brief, staccato scenes are jargon-filled essays on photography, aikido and beekeeping, among other subjects, none of which lends much texture to the two-dimensional characters. The rich culture of San Francisco is missing; the language is clich?d ("Sirens scream! Brakes squeal!"); the secondary cast is littered with stereotypes. By the long overdue ending, readers are not likely to care what happened to Yamada. After the success of the pseudonymous Hunt's debut, The Magician's Tale, this is a letdown indeed. Rights sold in the U.K., France, Germany, Holland and Norway.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

After the successful debut of the Kay Farrow series in The Magician's Tale , Hunt returns with an equally powerful and suspense-filled follow-up. Photojournalist Farrow cannot see colors and is blinded by normal daylight, but she still becomes an acclaimed photographer. Sadly, in the midst of her success, her beloved mentor, Maddy Yamada, is killed in a hit-and-run accident. Grief-stricken, Kay vows to find Maddy's killer. She soon discovers that Maddy was pursuing an old enemy, who apparently killed her when she got too close. Kay's search for the killer leads to an exclusive gun club run by men who have an unhealthy obsession with guns, sex, and death. As Kay weaves together the bizarre strands of the story, she must face the personal demons she fears most. Hunt has packed his story with high-impact action; concocted a devilishly clever plot; brought back a tough, smart, likable heroine; explored such controversial subjects as erotica, gun control, and sexual violence; injected provocative psychosocial themes; and written an ending that's both shocking and satisfying. The right ingredients are all here. The cold weather may be coming, but this one is hot, hot, hot! Emily Melton