Hardcastle’s Frustration

Set in March and April 1918, Ison’s workmanlike 10th procedural featuring London Divisional Det. Insp. Ernest Hardcastle and Det. Sgt. Charles Marriott (after 2011’s Hardcastle’s Obsession) centers on the murder of Ronald Parker, a missing gas company employee, whose body is fished from the Thames with a bullet wound in the head. When Parker’s widow, Mavis, hears the sad news, she asks whether his death occurred in Holland, claiming, unconvincingly, that he was heading there to avoid military conscription, despite his being medically exempt from service. A letter found on the corpse leads the police to Daisy Benson, the dead man’s mistress, but before too long they realize Mavis had a possible motive for doing away with her spouse since she may have also strayed. Several plot twists make up in part for the somewhat plodding story line. Readers should be prepared for a lead who’s less developed than similar irascible fictional Scotland Yarders. (Sept.)