YOU BELONG TO ME

New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1998. Hardcover. Very Good. Much like the real-life Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Dr. Susan Chandler, the sta r of You Belong to Me, is a clinical psychologist who hosts a call-in radio show. She's bright, sharp-tongued, and even has "shoulder-length dark blon de hair." Fortunately for Dr. Laura, the similarities end there. During an episode of Ask Dr. Susan, Chandler unwittingly gets herself tangled in the web of a dangerous serial killer. It begins innocently enough when Chandler invites Dr. Donald Richards, a criminologist/psychiatrist/author to talk a bout his book, Vanishing Women and the plight of lonely women who are preye d upon by calculating killers. Chandler is particularly interested in the d isappearance of woman named Regina Clausen, a high-profile investment advis or who vanished on a luxury cruise. Chandler feels indebted to Clausen--an investing tip she offered on CNBC turned a modest birthday check into a "bo nanza"--so the good doctor uses her radio forum to help crack the case. Sur e enough, during the last moments of the show, a nervous, married woman who goes by the name "Karen" calls in with invaluable clues. Apparently, she w as almost a victim and can identify the murderer, but is frightened to come forward because of an insanely jealous husband. As Dr. Susan pursues her t imid witness and digs deeper into the case, she realizes a hair too late th at she is also one of the hunted. The fast-moving story line and easily dig estible plot of You Belong to Me is vintage Mary Higgins Clark.