Writing
Police chief Xavier Quinn investigates the gruesome murder of Donald Pater, one of the wealthiest residents on a Caribbean island. He was found decapitated in his Jacuzzi. Although the local political establishment, especially crooked Governor Chalk, insists that small-time thief Maubee is responsible, Xavier has his doubts. This view is complicated by the police chief's personal history with Maubee: The men have been friends since childhood.
During one of her business trips, journalist Saira Burton receives news of her husband Tom's death. Believing it to be murder, she begins her own investigation...
When the atheistic ranting of Irish-American author James Mulcahy upsets the inhabitants of the Irish village to which he has retired, a mob threatens him. But moments after he has dared God to strike him dead, a stranger appears and does so. The man, dubbed "Johnny Nobody" by the press, claims no knowledge of Mulcahy or even of himself. He asks the help of the village priest, Father Carey, in his upcoming trial for Mulcahy's murder. While the amnesiac Johnny goes to trial, Father Carey mulls questions of belief raised by the case. And then, the good father learns a little more about Johnny Nobody...
Political kingmaker Joe Quinn attempts to elevate his daughter's ambitious suitor, George Willoughby, into the the higher echelons of politics by getting him elected to Congress. His daughter, Paula Quinn, is not interested in her father's hand-picked choice of Willoughby as her husband. Willoughby is duly elected but Paula chooses weatherman/inventor Kirk Duncan as her husband.
Businesswoman Claire King is the daughter of a powerful advertising executive. When Claire marries humble copywriter Bill Landin, she wants to use her influence to help her husband get ahead, but he will have none of it.
