Thinner Than Blood

Calling on her medical training and the conventions of the traditional English procedural, Shepherd ( Murderous Remedy ) eschews sex and vulgarity to satisfy readers with her third Inspector Richard Montgomery mystery. Elderly Maud Witherspoon, bedridden in her son Neville's family's home in the Nottingham suburbs, dies soon after changing her will to favor a local charity instead of her grandchildren. Soon Montgomery receives the first of a series of anonymous letters suggesting that Maud's death was not a result of natural causes. His fears of foul play seem unfounded, especially after the will change is declared null and the grandchildren and Maud's son George inherit her money. But then George dies of an acute asthma attack and Neville's daughter leaves home with the cat and no explanation, leading the Inspector to reassess the situation. Shepherd finds the resolution to this gentle whodunit, marked by civility and suggestion (as in ``f---''), in the turbulent undercurrents of domestic life. (July)