Chapter and Hearse: And Other Mysteries - Hardcover

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.

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
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