Nero Wolfe has his orchids. Detective Inspector C.D. Sloan has his roses. There he is, in the middle of a complicated case in Catherine Aird’s His Burial Too, and he’s worried that his Princess Grace rose will peak before a show on Saturday. Little things like this make Sloan human.
When his boss, Police Superintendent Leeyes, hands over the case of a missing man, Sloan protests he might have chosen to be missing, and it’s too soon to start an investigation. But, everyone, from Tindall’s daughter to his employees insist Richard Mallory Tindall is a creature of habit, and he wouldn’t have left without telling anyone. When the housekeeper and daughter find his car in the garage, they’re even more worried.
One call, though, from the construction site of an old Saxon church provides a partial answer. There’s a body inside the church, but both doors are blocked. A marble and iron memorial piece has toppled, and crushed the body. It takes large equipment to remove the doors so the police and pathologist can get to the body. There’s not much evidence at the scene, and only a missing file at Tindall’s patent firm to provide a clue as to why the man disappeared. But, his body, crushed in the church, is only the first one to have a connection to Tindall’s firm.
Once again, Aird brings together the unusual little police team that catches odd crimes in the fifth book in The Calleshire Chronicles series. These are fun books with a dry humor, but they take crime and murder seriously. His Burial Too is an excellent example of Aird’s storytelling skills.
His Burial Too by Catherine Aird. Rue Morgue, 1973. 159p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I picked up an ebook through Amazon.
I’ve been reading them since you’ve first mentioned this author. I’ve been having books sent to my library from other libraries in our network.
Great, Bonnie! I’m glad you like them as much as I do. I’ve been doing the same thing if our system has them. Since they’re older, they don’t always carry them.
I’ve bought the first one in this series, but I haven’t started it yet–still finishing up the first Kate Ellis book with Wesley Peterson (thanks to you, Lesa) and enjoying it very much.
I’m so glad you discovered Kate Ellis, Kim. I can’t read too many in a row, no matter how tempted I am, but I love that series. You’ll get to Catherine Airdrop eventually.
Just went searching – and discovered that a lot of her books are available on Kindle Unlimited. I also know there is a bias about using Amazon however for those that have a KU account these are available.
Love Rex Stout so will give this a try
Sloan’s assistant isn’t anywhere as smart as Archie Goodwin, Jeannette.
I appreciate you recommending this series, Lesa. I am currently reading the third CD Sloan book. Our library doesn’t carry anything by this author, but have been able to find used copies at reasonable prices so far.
I’ve checked some out of the library, Jennifer, bought one, and used Kindle Unlimited to read some.