Walking Dead Man: An Edwina Crusoe Mystery

In this convoluted and disappointing fourth entry in the series, Kittredge ( Cadaver ) stymies the sleuthing instincts of former nurse, Edwina Crusoe, now a private medical investigator in New Haven. Minutes after telling Edwina that she's being haunted by a man she murdered (a crime unsolved by the police), pretty young Theresa Whitlock is shot dead in the vestibule of Edwina's office building. Feeling personally involved even though she hadn't agreed to help Theresa, Edwina pries into the victim's life and discovers that the dentist's wife was a former hooker who had been embroiled in a jewel-smuggling scam. The police, including Edwina's husband, homicide inspector Martin MacIntyre, don't show much interest in the case, but dogged Edwina persists, even inviting a slew of unsavory characters into her house for a showdown. Although the lore of forensic dentistry is interesting, the plot never takes off as Kittredge prevents her appealing heroine from cottoning to the obviously fruitful clues that eventually lead to an unsurprising conclusion. (Nov.)