Two more Charlie Salter novels (by Eric Wright)

     Eric Wright. A Body Surrounded by Water (1987) The title alludes to the setting, which is Charlie Salter’s holiday on PEI with his family. As in all Charlie Salter novels, the family dynamics are as important as the crime puzzle, and we see here how the dynamics change as the boys grow up and Charlie and Annie discover, again, new facets of each other. Nicely done. The puzzle is pretty good, too, involving the Great Seal of the province, which was stolen a long, long time ago, and two accidental homicides. Salter gets on well with the Mounties, who police this Province, mostly because he’s not a pushy guy, but also because he provides a handy conduit to the politicians, which the Mountie sergeant needs. *** (2005)

     Eric Wright. A Question of Murder (1988) A bomb kills a man in van parked underground shortly after the Princess tours Yorkville. Salter is saddled with the unsolvable crime, unsolvable because the bomb is a professional type, so it looks like a hit. But Salter manages to tease out the truth, and arrives at a satisfactory conclusion, which is good, since his boss is retiring, and Salter will take over the job at Special Affairs. At home, Seth has decided his grandfather is lonely, which upsets the old man; but then Seth wants Mr Salter’s oral history, which smooths the waters. Angus wants to stay in Toronto over the summer with his girlfriend. Annie’s career has solidified, so she can tell Salter, who’s waffling about whether he wants to retire too, that his decision can and should be made entirely by himself. He won’t jeopardise his family’s security, financial or otherwise. Another satisfying read. *** (2005)