Bad Tidings: A Detective Superintendent Henry Christie Novel

What should have been a relaxing Christmas break for Henry Christie proves anything but in Oldham’s tight 19th novel featuring the Lancashire detective superintendent (after 2012’s Fighting for the Dead). On New Year’s Day, Henry inherits the case of two murders (dubbed the “Twixtmas Killings” by the press) from a disgraced colleague, and his mother suffers a near-fatal heart attack. That his mother has a “do not resuscitate” order in place complicates matters, while a potential next victim of the Twixtmas killer turns out to be Freddy Cromer, the violently deranged scion of a local crime family. Freddy is brought to Royal Blackburn Hospital, where he quickly takes a nurse hostage, and, in a separate incident, unknown individuals begin a shootout in the corridors. The thrill of the chase spurs Henry on, but he is still a team player who does things by the book. Oldham shows just how exciting a proper police investigation can be in this top-notch procedural. (Sept.)