Deathtrap
Here's an utterly charming mystery from a popular British crime novelist. Investigating the death of a freelance journalist, Detective Chief Inspector George Hennessy soon finds himself looking into an old murder case and making uncomfortable discoveries about a former colleague. The plot, as good as it is, is the least of this rich novel's attractions. There's something especially lifelike about its characters, especially vivid and true about its dialogue. Turnbull can create a character with nothing more than a few well-chosen words, and by the end of this novel, we can't wait to further our acquaintance with Hennessy and his sidekick, Detective Sergeant Yellich. Experienced readers will see the plot's conclusion coming from a fair distance away, but only the most demanding (or, perhaps, shortsighted) will consider this to be a flaw. If you like character-driven crime fiction with a British setting, don't miss this one.David PittCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved