Chapter and Hearse: And Other Mysteries - Hardcover

Aird, Catherine

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312290845 ISBN 13: 9780312290849

Publisher: Minotaur Books, 2004

Synopsis

A wealthy businessman has died under suspicious circumstances. A Christmas with the family provides more drama than could be expected. A girl accuses the hospital of killing her grandmother. In 16th Century Scotland, the death of a clansman is not what it first appears.
From the investigations of Inspector C. D. Sloan and his enthusiastic, all-too-constant, but not very helpful sidekick Constable Crosby of the Calleshire C.I.D. to the travails of Henry Tyler of the Foreign Office, from the mysterious Malcolm Venables of the Secret Service to Sheriff Rhuaraidh Macmillan of 16th century Scotland, Catherine Aird's latest collection of literate, delightful tales takes the reader through the full range of crime and punishment. Aird's mix of deft plotting, charming wit, and clever writing has made her one of the most engaging and enduring traditional crime writers. In her latest volume, all of her considerable gifts as a storyteller are on display.

About this title

About the Author

Catherine Aird is the author of more than twenty crime novels and story collections, most of which feature Detective Chief Inspector C. D. Sloan. She holds an honorary M. A. from the University of Kent and was made an M.B.E. Her other works include Amendment of Life (St. Martin's Minotaur, 2003) and Little Knell (St. Martin's Minotaur, 2001). She lives in England.

From Booklist

With 19 mystery novels under her belt, Aird is well known among British whodunit fans. Here she offers a collection of undemanding short stories--light bites for bedtime, beach, or bus reading. The stories are only a few pages long, but they cover a wide range of mystery genres, from mini-police procedurals and espionage thrillers to British cozies. A few stories provoke out-and-out laughter, while others generate genuine suspense. Aird's intrepid Detective Inspector Sloan and his loyal partner, DC Crosby, figure prominently in many of the tales, but she also introduces a host of other intriguing characters, including some British spies and several devilishly clever killers. Some of the standout stories include "A Soldier of the Queen," a humorous account of a nervous sentry, and "Exit Strategy," the dark tale of a woman suffering from senile dementia and her daughter's plans to "help" her. Aird's latest is a bit fluffy, but the charming diversity and cleverly constructed plots of her stories will certainly appeal to readers seeking low-impact entertainment. Emily Melton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0312290845
• ISBN 13: 9780312290849
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256