Last Will: A Best Defence Mystery

McIntyre’s outstanding third mystery featuring Scottish defense counsel Robbie Munro (after 2017’s Good News, Bad News) perfectly blends humor and investigation. Robbie reluctantly accompanies his thuggish landlord, Jake Turpie, and Jake’s muscle, Deek Pudney, to a farm, whose tenant owes Jake rent, to warn the tenant that nonpayment could result in a lawsuit. At the farm, Robbie instead finds the stabbed corpse of an unknown man and an abandoned small girl. The twin discoveries—and Deek’s subsequent arrest for the stabbing—complicate Robbie’s desperate efforts to convince Vikki Stark, the court-appointed member of the local Children’s Panel, that he can provide a proper home for rambunctious four-year-old Tina, his now-deceased former girlfriend’s daughter, whom he wants to adopt. The complications deepen after Robbie learns that the abandoned child, Molly, is being looked after, temporarily, by Vikki, to whom he finds himself attracted. Readers will want to see a lot more of the endearing Robbie. (Apr.)