Death by Degrees - Charlie Salter Author:Eric Wright Canadian police inspector Charlie Salter's dad is hospitalized after suffering a stroke, and suddenly Salter is brooding about his relationship with the old man. To take his mind off the unwelcome welter of feelings, Salter attempts to concentrate on the murder of a college professor. Not buying the notion that a burglar did it, Salter belie... more »ves the professor's recent bid to become dean of his college might have figured in the attack. The more Salter probes academia, the more he finds that jealousy, infidelity, and blackmail have taken seats in the lecture hall. Salter is a decent, mild-mannered sort of fellow, and his latest adventure is a decent, mild-mannered sort of crime story--without violence or bloodshed and, frankly, with precious little excitement. Salter plods along from one clue to the next, pulling and worrying at the mystery until it finally unravels, and that's about as much action as there is. Still, Salter has an established audience of readers who enjoy watching their hero meander his way through the rigors of police work.« less