Murder in a Good Cause

B.J. Busch is Associate Librarian (Access and Information Services) at
the University of Alberta.

This book, the latest in Sale’s detective series featuring inspector
John Sanders and his photographer girlfriend Harriet Jeffries, is a
tightly woven tale of greed and of a separatist movement’s
fund-raising efforts gone awry.

John and Harriet, after having been apart for some time, are brought
together in the aftermath of a murder at which Harriet was present: a
wealthy German actress was poisoned in her home. Suspects abound,
including the actress’s family, although there is no evidence that
anyone had the opportunity to administer the poison. Harriet befriends
one of the murdered woman’s daughters, and this relationship puts them
both in jeopardy. Linked to this case is a series of burglaries
occurring while residents are away at their cottages, although the
connection does not become clear until the finale.

There are harrowing moments, plot twists and turns, steamy sex scenes,
and memorable characters. The give and take between the players is
smooth and believable. In short, a well-written, absorbing work of
detective fiction—the kind one can get hooked on.