Dover and the Claret Tappers: A Detective Chief Inspector Wilfred Dover Novel

First published in England in 1976, this is Porter's fourth hilarious tale featuring Wilf Dover, the most inept detective at Scotland Yard. A gang called the Claret Tappers kidnap lazy, obese Wilf and great is the rejoicing when demands for his ransom are refused, ``on principle''--but the celebration is premature. Instead of killing Dover, the captors release him, to the despair of his colleagues. Poor Sgt. MacGregor anguishes over resuming the partnership with the sluggard as they are assigned to find the kidnap gang. Doing all the dreary work, which includes the care and feeding of Wilf, MacGregor gets nowhere and the Yard chief is about to close the case when the abductors strike again. Now they are holding the baby grandson of an MP and, this time, the long-suffering sergeant gets a bit of his own back. The extortionists insist that Dover alone deliver the ransom and he is propelled into situations horrible beyond his worst fears. The author navigates skillfully between scenes of inspired slapstick and nerve-twanging tensions, topping the entertainment with a sly surprise. (Oct.)