- Hardcover: 224 pages
- Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (Mar 9 2001)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0312268769
- ISBN-13: 978-0312268763
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 14.2 x 2.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 340 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,144,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Three recent books featuring different series characters (Lucy Trimble in 1999's Death on the Rocks; Joe Barley in 2000's The Kidnapping of Rosie Dawn; and this entry featuring newly retired Toronto policeman Mel Pickett) demonstrate Canadian author Wright's versatility and excellence. Mel and his new wife, Charlotte, have a total of four homes between them--Mel's house in Toronto, his cabin and trailer at the same site near Larch River, and Charlotte's home in Larch River. They haven't had time to sort out which to keep and which to sell, but Mel has rented the trailer to friend Eliza Pollock and the cabin to local farmhand Norbert Thompson. Thompson's murder at the remote cabin site has local police investigating the victim's sister-in-law and her new husband. But Mel is concerned that he, not Thompson, might have been the target--and that could endanger both Charlotte and Eliza. As he struggles with his retired status, which he circumvents in various ways, Mel also struggles with his relationship with a putative son and granddaughter. And he and Charlotte have adjustments to make to their new life together, including what secrets to share or keep hidden. There is nothing gratuitous in Wright's novels--not sex, nor violence, nor strangely quirky characters. Instead one gets careful plotting and a large, diverse cast of characters whose strengths and weaknesses ring perfectly true. (Mar. 9)Forecast: A solid midlist author, Wright could reach more literary readers with good word of mouth and careful handselling.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Wright reintroduces series protagonist Mel Pickett (Buried in Stone), a sixtyish retired Toronto police officer. Pickett rents out his beloved cabin on the river when he gets married, but someone murders his renter. Pickett investigates, suspecting that he himself was the intended victim. A likely purchase for fans of the series.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
I'd give it a nice, solid B.,
By
This review is from: Death of a Hired Man (Hardcover)
"Death of a Hired Man" is a good mystery. Not outstanding, but certainly quite enjoyable.The body of Norbert Thompson was found in the log cabin of retired officer Mel Pickett. Not only was the small community shaken by the murder, but naturally Pickett found himself involved -- especially when he realized who the murderer might be. The more I read, the more I liked Norbert -- who never appears in the book ALIVE. Between the purity of the writing, the decent characters, and the intriguing sub plot involving Pickett's son, I'm interested in reading the sequel (if one is written) as well as the other series by Eric Wright. The author caught my attention, kept it throughout the book, and left me wanting a little more. I believe that that means that "Death of a Hired Man" is a success.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent work,
By
This review is from: Death of a Hired Man (Hardcover)
Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant Willie is stunned when a woman reports a murder at a cabin on Larch River. Wilkie believes his father's old law enforcement peer, retired cop Mel Pickett, is the victim as this is his home. However, when Wilkie arrives at the scene, he finds a different corpse. The witness, Elisa Pullock, explains that the deceased is Norbert Thompson, renting the cabin from the recently married Mel. Elisa is borrowing a nearby trailer from Mel to work on a historical book about the area.Upon hearing the news of the homicide of his border, the sixty-six-year-old Mel, as well as his wife Charlotte, is stunned. While the cops wonder if this might be part of the recent break-ins that turned ugly, Mel wonders if he was the target. Also under consideration by the law remains the fact that that Norbert left his brother's home to live at this cabin after a major spat with his sibling. Not wanting to wait, Mel goes into his police mode seeking the identity of a killer. DEATH OF A HIRED MAN is a fabulous police procedural with private investigative elements. The story line is well crafted because author Eric Wright makes his cast seem genuine without slowing down the tale. Fans of a good crime novel starring newly married senior citizens struggling with difficult decisions such as wills and multiple homes will find this book as a sure thing. Harriet Klausner
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews) 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
I'd give it a nice, solid B.,
By Rebekah Sue Harris - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Death of a Hired Man (Hardcover)
"Death of a Hired Man" is a good mystery. Not outstanding, but certainly quite enjoyable.The body of Norbert Thompson was found in the log cabin of retired officer Mel Pickett. Not only was the small community shaken by the murder, but naturally Pickett found himself involved -- especially when he realized who the murderer might be. The more I read, the more I liked Norbert -- who never appears in the book ALIVE. Between the purity of the writing, the decent characters, and the intriguing sub plot involving Pickett's son, I'm interested in reading the sequel (if one is written) as well as the other series by Eric Wright. The author caught my attention, kept it throughout the book, and left me wanting a little more. I believe that that means that "Death of a Hired Man" is a success. 4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent work,
By Harriet Klausner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Death of a Hired Man (Hardcover)
Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant Willie is stunned when a woman reports a murder at a cabin on Larch River. Wilkie believes his father's old law enforcement peer, retired cop Mel Pickett, is the victim as this is his home. However, when Wilkie arrives at the scene, he finds a different corpse. The witness, Elisa Pullock, explains that the deceased is Norbert Thompson, renting the cabin from the recently married Mel. Elisa is borrowing a nearby trailer from Mel to work on a historical book about the area.Upon hearing the news of the homicide of his border, the sixty-six-year-old Mel, as well as his wife Charlotte, is stunned. While the cops wonder if this might be part of the recent break-ins that turned ugly, Mel wonders if he was the target. Also under consideration by the law remains the fact that that Norbert left his brother's home to live at this cabin after a major spat with his sibling. Not wanting to wait, Mel goes into his police mode seeking the identity of a killer. DEATH OF A HIRED MAN is a fabulous police procedural with private investigative elements. The story line is well crafted because author Eric Wright makes his cast seem genuine without slowing down the tale. Fans of a good crime novel starring newly married senior citizens struggling with difficult decisions such as wills and multiple homes will find this book as a sure thing. Harriet Klausner |
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