Six Proud Walkers

The wealthy and prestigious Walker family live in the tranquil English village of Honeyford, giving Fraser ( A Shroud for Delilah ) another chance to combine a charming locale and quiet good manners with several horrifying and bloody murders. Disturbed by a floral pattern that spells ``murder'' in the Walker gardens, Chief Inspector David Webb questions Neville Walker, who, heretofore unaware of the design, orders the arrangement uprooted. When Neville's mother Dorothy is bludgeoned to death, suspicion falls on Neville's daughter Melanie, who has admitted planting the prophetic message months earlier. As the placid, gentlemanly, yet relentless Webb investigates further, he finds that several other people might have wanted Dorothy Walker dead, including an alcoholic villager looking for revenge and Dorothy's own arrogant and resentful grandson. When the body of Neville's brother is found, close questioning of the terrified family brings to light a number of unsavory secrets, giving the astonished Webb and his dedicated staff enough clues to corner the murderer. The book is well-controlled, finely tuned, heady with atmosphere, and full of legitimate surprises. (Feb.)