A Little Learning

This was a very fun read set in British academia. The dialogue (especially between the protagonist and his boss) is clever and smart. If you like words and wordplay this is a great mystery. Some of the Britishisms might be lost on Americans, but it is not a big problem at all.

When the Director of the University of Eastern Lancashire is discovered dead with a bullet in his head, the relentless and intimidating figure of Detective Inspector Percy Peach jumps into action. His interviewing technique is pure genius as he gleans every possible scintilla of information from his subject.This is a classic police procedural as DI Peach visits suspect after suspect and slowly puts together the puzzle of who murdered Claptrap Clark. The entertainment lies in Peach's interviewing style, an elaborate act which is designed to keep his adversary unbalanced and in a constant state of nervousness.Hilarious scenes are provided intermittently throughout the book when Peach reports to his superior, Superintendent Thomas Tucker. Showing as little respect as possible, putting forward outrageous theories and baiting his boss at every opportunity, I found myself looking forward to every meeting with ever greater enthusiasm.This is a terrific book that provides a very well constructed mystery, investigated by a character who provides consistent entertainment. It's part of a series of books featuring Inspector Peach, which is good news because one book of Peach is definitely not enough.