Detective Chief Inspector (D.C.I.) C. D. Sloan works in the deceptively quiet town and county of Calleshire, where for many years he's endured the pressures of his demanding, unreasonable boss and the company of Constable Crosby, Sloan's all too constant but not very helpful sidekick. He's also solved a series of complex murders in Aird's long-running series long praised for it's literate wit, style and charm. In her first new novel in almost two years, Hole in One , a death occurs on the links, a death that is nearly impossible and is, quite improbably, is murder. But improbable is a Calleshire specialty and as far as D. C. I. Sloan is concerned, impossible is merely par for the course. So many try, so few succeed--to write a golf mystery that gives the game a fair shake, that is. Aird comes closer than most, despite relying on that silliest of cliches, the dead body buried in a bunker (there's not enough sand to do a proper job of it). And, please, why do her golfers use nine-irons to play out of the sand when the sand wedge was invented some 70 years ago? Golfers may not be able to get beyond these gaffes, but fans of Aird's Detective Chief Inspector Sloan series will find plenty to enjoy here. The interplay between Sloan and Constable Crosby, his dry-witted sidekick, is a delight as always, and Aird's take on life in the "caddyshack" boasts a few Bill Murray-like flourishes. The plot, about rival club members vying for development rights to land surrounding the links, unfolds satisfactorily, and Sloan's asides to himself provide a running satirical commentary on the foibles of the private-club set. Solid series fare despite a couple of double bogeys on the front nine. Bill Ott Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Detective Chief Inspector C. D. Sloan works in the deceptively quiet town and county of Calleshire, where for many years he s endured the pressures of his demanding and unreasonable boss and the wearying company of Constable Crosby, Sloan s all too constant but rarely helpful sidekick. With both these millstones about his neck, Sloan is called in to investigate a most unusual death in his most perplexing case ever. At the Berebury golf course in Calleshire county, golfing beginner Helen Sewell has gone off in search of her wayward ball which she has hit into the dreaded Hells Bells bunker. What she finds there under the soft sand of the course s steepest bunker is most surprising and unwelcome a lightly buried corpse. Now Sloan must unravel a case with more twists and turns than the course itself.
Detective Chief Inspector C. D. Sloan works in the deceptively quiet town and county of Calleshire, where for many years he s endured the pressures of his demanding and unreasonable boss and the wearying company of Constable Crosby, Sloan s all too constant but rarely helpful sidekick. With both these millstones about his neck, Sloan is called in to investigate a most unusual death in his most perplexing case ever. At the Berebury golf course in Calleshire county, golfing beginner Helen Sewell has gone off in search of her wayward ball which she has hit into the dreaded ?Hells Bells bunker. What she finds there under the soft sand of the course s steepest bunker is most surprising and unwelcome ? a lightly buried corpse. Now Sloan must unravel a case with more twists and turns than the course itself. Catherine Aird is the author of twenty-odd 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 more recent works include Chapter and Hearse (St Martin's Minotaur, 2004) and Amendment of Life (St. Martin's Minotaur, 2003). She lives in England. Hole in One Chapter One One Down 'Are they safe now?' asked Helen Ewell anxiously.Ursula Millward peered forward, shading her eyes against the sun with her hand. 'Quite safe, I should say.''Are you sure?''I don't know how far you can hit,' responded Ursula with spirit, 'but they're well out of my range already.''That's a relief,' said Helen. She turned to face her friend. 'Do I go first or do you?' Both women were standing beside their trolleys on the first tee of the Berebury Golf Club.Ursula Millward put both her hands out of sight behind her back. 'Which is it in? Right or left?''Left,' said Helen Ewell at once.The other player brought her hands back into view and opened them. There was a golf tee in the left one. 'All right, you go first, then.' Ursula knew she should have said 'Your honour' but it still sounded funny to her. And anyway honour wasn't a word that came easily to mind when talking to Helen.Helen Ewell carefully selected a number-two wood club from her golf bag, pressed a brightly coloured plastic tee into the ground, and placed her ball on it. Taking a deep breath she started to address it. After taking a couple of practice swings she stopped, grounded her driver and said again, 'You'r