Buried in Stone (Mel Pickett Mysteries) [Paperback]

Eric Wright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 29, 2001 | Series: Mel Pickett Mysteries

Pickett is a rich man by many of the standards that count most. A widower and retired Toronto cop, he owns his city home free and clear, he has a good pension and enough savings in the bank, and he's just rebuilt a century-old log cabin in a rustic area north of the city. Life for Pickett seems almost idyllic as he settles in with his dog, Willis, to enjoy a peaceful existence in his cabin. He begins to build ties to the town of Larch River - to police chief Lyman Caxton, to the local dramatic society, and, most of all, to Charlotte Mercer, who manages a small cafe and gives him hope that he may not be too old for romance after all. Pickett's police days are supposedly over, but he can't help being an interested spectator when young Timmy Marlow is found mauled and shot to death near a wooded trail just a mile or two from Pickett's cabin. The death is a shock to the community. For Timmy's sister, Betty Cullen, it is a catastrophe. She suspects that her brother, a womanizer, may have been killed by a jealous husband, and the shame is enough to drive her from Larch River. But is the answer to the murder so simple? When an arrest is finally made, Pickett questions whether justice has been done. A twisted trail into the victim's past takes Pickett a thousand miles away to uncover the shocking information that brings him back to the truth.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

It turns out that being 60 isn't any easier than being 16 for retired Toronto policeman Mel Pickett, who showed up in one of Wright's Charlie Salter novels, A Sensitive Case. What distinguishes Wright's crime writing is the wry sensitivity with which he explores the uncertainties that dog his older characters?that, and his sure way with a murder plot. Both these gifts are in evidence in this series launch. In the small town of Larch River, 150 miles north of Toronto, widower Mel has built his dream cabin from scratch, made a few good friends and gently romanced Charlotte Mercer, who runs the local diner. But full-fledged retirement and leisure are put on the back burner when Timmy Marlow is found dead. Timmy's only grieving relative is his sister Betty, girlfriend of the local cop. The cop hated Timmy's guts, as did the legions of women he loved and left. At the time of his death, Timmy had one stupid pal, a spotty job record and some money that belonged to Betty. Mel is often comically unsure of himself for a man of retirement age, and he occasionally manages to foul up his life in an effort to avoid embarrassment. But his cop's mind seldom lets him down, and the solution to the murder is a cunning one. Missing out on Charlie Salter is a high price for following Mel on the trail. But it's a price worth paying.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Retired Toronto cop Mel Pickett, a supporting character from A Sensitive Case (LJ 4/1/90), comes to the defense of a man falsely accused of murder in remote Larch River.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (January 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743205146
• ISBN-13: 978-0743205146
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,683,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as his Charlie Salter Series, January 30, 1999

By 

puffinswan "puffinswan" (Brigadoon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buried In Stone (Worldwide Mystery) (Paperback)

I liked this book but not as much as some of the author's others. Plods a bit through the middle but has a great ending to make up for it.