Shallow Grave: A Bill Slider Mystery

Ms Harrod-Eagles' series on Bill Slider continues to delight. Her writing is wickedly humorous and her characters "breathe". This is an excellent edition to the series. We see Bill Slider at his best in this one. He is the most likeable detective out there right now, I think. In this book a woman is found dead in a construction hole at the Old Rectory. How did she get there? Was she even murdered? Bill and Jim Atherton set out to track the killer. It appears like a straightforward case at first since they discover her husband was terribly jealous, and he really had no alibi for the time of the murder, but as they delve deeper, they find a woman who has been leading a rather unsavoury life, and has been upsetting and making people angry for some time. As always, Ms. Harrod-Eagles characterizations are great. Cheif Inspector Porson is an absolute gem. I caught myself chuckling more than once at his Porsonisms. Read this series if you like intelligent writing with a diamond hard wit laced right through the whole story.

Slider and Atherton investigate the death of Jennifer Andrews, a contractor's adulterous wife. Her body is found in a trench the man was about to permanently fill. The construction was taking place on a fancy estate occupied by an ailing historian and the wimpy daughter he browbeats. Both knew the dead woman, and neither liked her. In fact, no one seems to have liked her much -not the (married) boss she was having an affair with, or the co-worker whose place she took in doing so, or her notoriously jealous husband. Even her priest despised her. As Slider and Atherton investigate the murder, they each struggle with their own relationship issues. Atherton's wondering whether the bachelor life he's raised to an art form is really all that wonderful. Slider's still living with one woman, and married to another woman who is living with another man. His estranged wife, Irene, wants to divorce and financially destroy him, or maybe reconcile with him instead; she's not sure.My favorite parts of Harrod-Eagles' books are the witty banter among the coppers, and their brainstorming sessions about their cases. As always, the police officers trade funny quips, puns, and put-downs as they share theories and speculation about a murder. The relationship between Slider and Atherton is the deepest and most complex in the series, and there's some reflection on that in SHALLOW GRAVE. The plot is somewhat predictable and the resolution not particularly surprising. Those shortcomings might bother me in another book, but not in this one. If a less-than-compelling plot can bring together such imperfect but utterly likable characters as populate this series, and inspire writing as good as Harrod-Eagles', that's fine by me. This is one of the best books in the series.

Mischievous is the word for our Cynthia. She leads us down a bunch of pleasant garden paths, lets us believe we've solved the mystery and then hits us with the real solution leaving us with the I-should-have-seen-that feeling. And she plays fair withal. The reader should pay attention to the chapter headings: "Lettuce,With a Gladsome Mind" and "Sick Transport Glorious Monday" for just two examples. One can see that the author's puns are as clever and plentiful as ever. And thank heaven for Superintendent Porson. Long may he reign! Great plot, fine characterization and a load of mischief. A cracking good read, in fact.

When Edward Andrews's wife is found in a trench he has dug, the suspects narrow quickly. However, life is rarely easy, and Eddie has an airtight alibi. It seems Andrews was doing some renovation to famed historian and writer Cyril Dacre's estate in the exclusive west London neighborhood. Eddie was hired by Dacre's daughter Frances to do some work which he considered unnecessary. It was here that Eddie's philandering wife's body was found. Inspector Bill Slider, his alter ego Sergeant Atherton, and his lover Joanna return in the seventh hilarious, puzzling English cozy mystery. Besides solving the crime, Slider must solve his personal life. Slider's wife has returned to the family home and wants Slider to put their marriage back together. Absolutely rush out and buy this one!

England's leading historian Cyril Dacre and his reticent daughter reside in the spectacular old rectory on the posh Mimpriss Estate. The duo shares a secluded life because Cyril is dying from cancer. However, neither one was prepared for their home to be the sight of a murder investigation. The police led by Atherton feel the prime suspect is Eddie Andrews, a handyman doing repairs to the rectory. His spouse's corpse was found in a ditch just prior to Eddie filling the hole with cement. Detective Inspector Bill Slider is not convinced that Eddie killed his wife. He makes inquiries that lead to other viable suspects who have motives for murdering the brash, often ugly, and always promiscuous victim. Though Slider eventually obtains a confession, he continues his investigation because all the other evidence points elsewhere. An Inspector Slider story is always fun to read and the latest novel, SHALLOW GRAVE, continues that tradition. The support cast adds much to Slider's character as readers see through their opinion and Bill's thoughts how honorable an individual the inspector is. The who-done-it is well executed as expected by fans of the talented Cynthia Harrod Eagles.Harriet Klausner