Hole in One

August 1, 2005
Fans have waited two years for another of Aird's Calleshire County police procedurals, and if you like golf, this well-crafted whodunit was especially worth the wait. "Seedy" Sloan and his trip-over-the-truth sidekick, Detective Constable Crosby, tramp over hill and sand trap in search of the killer of an unknown male found buried behind the sixth green at the Berebury Golf Club. Eventually, they identify the victim as a likable young caddie who was dating the daughter of a member bidding on some land the club was planning to sell. Along the way, Sloan, who prefers roses, learns more than he cares to about golf: the history of the game, the names of each club, the lingo (a beginner is called a "rabbit"), even the origin of the term "links." Full of poetical, biblical and Shakespearian references, this fun read delivers a denouement that finishes the game well under par. Nicely played.