Stiff News

Catherine Aird is a master of the humorous, cozy mystery. The author herself is a fascinating person. She intended to be a physician (like her father) but ill health intervened. She is one of the most well-read authors around (meaning that she has forgotten more literature than most of us have read). She flings out lines from Shakespeare, the Bible, famous, and obscure poets with relish. She is also an extremely wry wit; we are blessed that she writes novels. I knew we were going to have fun when Inspector Sloan asks for Crosby (no one asks for Crosby; he's the most obtuse constable in English history). When the Superintendent is horrified that Crosby is chosen, Sloan explains that that is the only way he can get to the funeral before the body is interred (a funeral is occurring at present). Crosby is notorious for having the heaviest foot in the county. In fact, his greatest wish is to join the Traffic Division, but Inspector Harpe has more sense than most. He ignores each of Crosby's requests to join his force. The deceased sent a letter to her son (to be received on the day of her funeral), notifying him that she'd been murdered. Mrs. Powell's son rushed to the police officers and they interrupted the burial. The rest of the book, it seemed to me, to be dozens of red herrings flung about on the pages until the end. The author had a great time with all the oldsters at a retirement home; the eccentrics outnumber the keepers.

Aird is a new writer for me. I am always pleased to find new British mystery writers as they tend to write in a way that I can enjoy. As another reviewer stated, this book is very tongue-in-cheek, but it has to do with a topic I am currently involved in in bioethics; the concept of who controls when a person lives or dies. this is an ongoing argument at the moment. In the U.S. we tend to err on the side of caution, and feel that when a person's 'time' is up should be left to 'God' or 'fate.' In Europe, in Great Britain, and especially the Netherlands, this determination is being 'made' for people by their families or by society, who I don't feel has the right to make that type of judgement call. Sloan, a rather weary detective is called into a care facility because a woman dies. This elderly woman writes a letter and has someone on the staff mail this letter upon her death...and she out and out states that she has been murdered. Sloan, and his sidekick Crosby (who is a terrible driver!) never do determine whether this one woman was among those in this care facility whose time was determined for them by someone else, whether a family member anxious to get their paws on the family money, an over-zealous nurse or medical personnel on the staff, or some other person for some other reading. But basically the question is raised that no matter who determines when a person should live or die is a murderer. I am not sure that this is the wishful thinking of this reader or whether Aird (there is a Scottish name for you) herself feels this way towards those who would play the part of God. The writing is concise and compact. Aird wastes no words and yet she manages to get in plenty of snide remarks. At some places you almost feel as if there should be a drum-roll for the crack being made. How nice to find a new and interesting British mystery writer! Karen Sadler

As in all her books, this one is cleverly and wittingly written. No one quite has Ms. Aird's style. It is truly unique in the genre of British detective fiction. She has sharp dialogue and carefully drawn characters, and her books almost make the reader feel they are partaking of a guilty pleasure because of her sly wit and slightly naughty "tongue-in-cheek" writing. In this book Sloan and Crosby are called out to a Senior's manor. No one seems surprised that a sick old lady has died, except the lady herself. She had made arrangements to have a letter sent to her son saying that she was afraid of dying not a natural death. By the time Sloan and Crosby are on site at the manor it appears that something very wrong has been going on there. It's one of the most puzzling cases of Sloan's career, and he finds that he has to delve into the past to unmask the murderer.

I welcomed the return of C.D. Sloan and even the lead-footed Crosby, and I was quite intrigued by the mystery; however, the thread seemed to fizzle out and the denouement left me cold. It all seemed much ado about nothing. An enjoyable read for fans of this sleuth, but newcomers to Aird should read some of her older books. My personal favorite is "A Most Contagious Game". It does not feature C.D. Sloan, although it is laid in Calleshire and mixes a delightful historical mystery with a modern one in masterful fashion.

No one would expect murder to occur to any of the residents of the Almstone Manor rest home for the Fearnshire regiment and their families. Anyone living at the home already suffers from bad health and death would be from natural causes. This holds true for Gertrude Powell until her son receives a posthumous letter from her, stating that someone has been trying to kill her. Callehsire Detective Inspector Christopher Dennis "C.D." Sloan and Detective Constable Crosby begin to investigate Gertrude's missive by trying to halt her funeral. The two law enforcement officials soon learn that the residents of Almstone have known each since W.W.II. Though it initially appears to be the ramblings of a very sick elderly person, five-decade old grudges remain, but are they strong enough to push someone into committing murder? Catherine Aird is renowned for her witty, British police procedurals starring Sloan (see A GOING CONCERN). However, her current entry, STIFF NEWS, seems to fall short of her previous tales as the story line takes too long before finding its rhythm and the secondary cast never evolves into real characters. Still, Ms. Aird's ability to write keeps her novel from total collapse and Sloan remains an interesting protagonist. The news on this book is that it is a bit stiff, leaving readers who want Ms. Aird at her best to try any of her previous works. Sloan fans will both enjoy and be disappointed by Sloan's latest case.Harriet Klausner