Bad Timing

British author Oldham’s taut 27th outing for retired policeman Henry Christie (after Wildfire) finds Christie keeping a low profile as proprietor of the Tawny Owl restaurant and lodge in the Lancashire town of Kendleton. Though he’s trying to stay out of trouble, trouble catches up with him on a fly-fishing trip when he stumbles on the body of a young woman wedged in a rock cliff. Det. Sgt. Diane Daniels, a former colleague, investigates, and Henry is soon drawn into a shockingly brutal and violent case with multiple victims. Christie joins Daniels in pursuing a contract killer caught up in an international money-laundering scheme. As the duo careen from one lead to another, the suspects always seem to be a step ahead until an ambush derails Christie and Daniels’s hot pursuit. Eventually, Christie must face a crime spree that hits awfully close to home. Fully realized characters complement the well-crafted plot. Oldham shows no signs of losing steam. Agent: Olav Wyper, SMA Talent (U.K.). (Dec.)