Mystery Of The Fatal Cipher Book

This is a series you can always depend upon for uncomplicated but clever plotting and a sensible denouement. The continuing supporting characters are well drawn and seem like old friends. In this entry, Slider's partner, Atherton, is in the hospital after a close call in their last case, and Slider himself probably should have taken some time off work before returning to the job as he has not quite recovered from his injuries in the same incident.

A gay performer seeks Slider's help after he has received death threats but has no proof of those threats or why he is a target. Slider can do nothing and before long, the performer is murdered and Slider is blaming himself. So begins a tour through the seedy nightlife in which the murder victim traveled and Slider is in for quite a few surprises. The author packs a lot of action into a short book but I did guess who the murderer was about halfway through the story......but that doesn't make it any less interesting.A good continuing series.