A Sensitive Case

Inspector Charlie Salter of the Toronto police teams up with Sergeant Mel Pickett, a by-the-book cop on the edge of retirement, to investigate the murder of massage therapist Linda Thomas, a woman with a number of influential clients

Staff Inspector Charlie Salter of the Toronto police department makes his seventh appearance in this gem of a procedural. Teamed with Sergeant Mel Pickett, a widower nearing retirement, he takes over the investigation of the murder of Linda Thomas, a massage therapist with several influential--and nervous--clients. Dealing with an irate deputy provincial minister anxious that his involvement with the victim not become public knowledge, Slater and Picket develop a number of promising leads and learn the victim was nothing more than a legitimate masseuse. While the demands of Salter's career threaten his marriage, Pickett is tracked by a Brit punk rocker who could be a granddaughter resulting from a wartime dalliance. Wright's deftly realized walk-on characters, such as Pickett's blade-faced sister-in-law who is maneuvering to make her son his heir, contribute to this appealing mystery.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Refreshing atmosphere, unpretentious style, uncluttered plot, and approachable characters mark this attractive addition to the Charlie Salter series. Salter, now head of the Special Affairs Center for the Toronto police, nevertheless finds himself investigating the murder of a massage therapist. With the help of retirement-age Sergeant Pickett, he narrows the meager list of suspects, which includes a deputy minister, a television host, and a university president. Sidetracked slightly by rescuing his faltering marriage and locating an English girl's illegitimate grandfather, Salter wins the day. Crisp reading.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.