Killing Time: An Inspector Bill Slider Mystery

"This is not an episode of 'Cracker'," London police inspector Bill Slider reminds one of his coppers when he begins to spout psychiatric jargon. Cynthia Harrod-Eagles has done such a good job of making her hero a no-nonsense, everyday kind of bloke that she has probably hurt her chances of turning Slider into a TV series character. But readers who enjoy the subtle nuances of flawed reality will relish her pace and polish, as Slider's old friendship with an exotic dancer called Busty Parnell involves him in the murder of her flatmate, gay dancer Jay Paloma. It wouldn't be a Slider story without female problems of a personal nature; in this case the unexpected return of an ex-wife, the jealousy of a current lover, and the amorous attention of a new colleague come into play. There's also a suspicious cabby with smelly feet and lots of acutely observed political infighting, especially a delightfully awful farewell party for a retiring superintendent. Other Sliders in paperback include Blood Lines, Death to Go, Grave Music, and Orchestrated Death.