Customer Reviews

Murder Benign (Dales Mystery Library)

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In Richard Hunt's "Murder Benign," an archaeologist's last day seems to be devoted to cultivating suspects for his impending murder. First, he is in an accident when he hits a biker. As it is, the biker belongs to a group that is especially upset about the lack of diligence motorists exhibit with regard bikers. Then the archaeologist upbraids two students on a dig when they find a clay tablet with cuneiform writing--a tablet the archaeologist is certain must be a hoax.

Before long, Detective Chief Inspector Sidney Walsh and his team are investigating the archaeologist's murder and trying to whittle down the list of suspects. A great deal of their job involves setting up several stakeouts, one of which leads to an incredibly funny scene.

"Murder Benign" is very well written, and Hunt keeps the pace moving quickly, dangling enough mysteries to keep the pages turning toward the resolutions (though not all are revealed, unfortunately). In the end, I found myself more interested in the authenticity (or lack of the same) of the tablet than in the killer's identity. Since I have no particular expertise in archaeology, I think that fact stands as some level of praise for the book.