Dead Heat

March 1, 2004
Det. Inspector Henry Christie, on suspension since his last outing, Substantial Threat, investigates some shady doings among the horse-riding set.

March 1, 2004
British police detective Henry Christie has been suspended from his job pending an investigation into a shooting on an earlier case. He is bored, stuck at home with nothing to do, so when the wife of John Wickson, one of the town's richest men, asks Henry to investigate the brutal mutilation of her favorite horse, Henry jumps at the chance. The dead horse is just part of the story. Wickson is apparently into the Mafia for big bucks, and their attack on the horse was a warning. The police are getting nowhere identifying the mastermind behind the Mafia plot, so Henry's former boss "unofficially" asks Henry to investigate. His efforts culminate in a tense shoot-'em-up that will leave readers breathless. Skillful writing, a tautly woven plot, plenty of unexpected twists, and a main character who's both intelligent and appealing add up to a fine read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)