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Inspector Sloan #10
Last Respects
Catherine Aird (A Going Concern). When local fisherman Horace Boller decided to row his boat out on the tidal backwash of the river one morning, he couldn’t have meant to land a catch like this. What he ended up with was a body floating on the river’s surface. And judging by the state of the corpse, the death was not a recent one. The strange thing is, the coroner report indicates that drowning was not the cause of death. It’s up to the intrepid C. D. Sloan—and his markedly less intrepid assistant, Constable Crosby—to investigate. Along the way, Calleshire’s most successful pair of puzzle-solving policemen will contend with a handful of additional strange deaths, befuddling municipal building codes, an antiquarian with interesting views on local history, and a fisherman who has his own motivation for helping (or perhaps hindering) the investigation. Can C. D. Sloan get to the bottom of this waterlogged killing?
162 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
167 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Aird
68 books194 followers Kinn Hamilton McIntosh, known professionally as Catherine Aird, was an English novelist. She was the author of more than twenty crime fiction novels and several collections of short stories. Her witty, literate, and deftly plotted novels straddle the "cozy" and "police procedural" genres and are somewhat similar in flavour to those of Martha Grimes, Caroline Graham, M.C. Beaton, Margaret Yorke, and Pauline Bell. Aird was inducted into the prestigious Detection Club in 1981, and is a recipient of the 2015 Cartier Diamond Dagger award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
September 12, 2020
I truly enjoyed listening to this intriguing murder mystery. Favorite passage: "Every case was like solving a jigsaw and some pieces of that jigsaw had straight edges. A piece of jigsaw puzzle that had a straight edge helped to define the puzzle. So it was in a murder case. He always thought of the forensic pathologist's report as so many pieces of straight edge of a jigsaw puzzle."
And, a more sobering one: 'Domestics' were what new constables on the beat cut their wisdom teeth on. It aged them more quickly than anything else.
And, a more sobering one: 'Domestics' were what new constables on the beat cut their wisdom teeth on. It aged them more quickly than anything else.
August 20, 2023
wow that ending, that murderer. I didn't not expect the one to be so dark and the other to be so cruel. this short but rather frustratingly slow-paced detective yarn was all set to be a forgettable 2-star read. not that it wasn't well done, but the reader is well inside Inspector Sloan's head, as well as in the heads of a grieving young woman, a bland young constable, and a clever old fisherman... and these are not particularly interesting heads to be in. Aird is a careful writer who doesn't mind getting granular, and so we are privy to Inspector Sloan's often wry but often dull observations during various interviews, to the slow and very realistic grieving process that Elizabeth Busby is going through, to the domestic life of Constable Crosby, and to the mercenary schemes of Horace Buller. all of their various thought processes just made me sleepy. I think soporific would be the word here? the book reminded me that telepathy would be the worst, most tedious superpower to have.
but that ending, that murderer! I just couldn't believe it, I was so surprised and disturbed. such cunning, sadistic, evil machinations. the resolution sorta took my breath away.
but that ending, that murderer! I just couldn't believe it, I was so surprised and disturbed. such cunning, sadistic, evil machinations. the resolution sorta took my breath away.
April 1, 2021
This serves as my introduction to Catherine Aird and her series featuring Inspector Sloan, published in 1982. I have many more to look forward to and intend to keep her on my reading shelf. Her prose style is unique for the delivery of a murder mystery, but, of course, it is from a different era. There are mysterious events that begin with the discovery of a floating body and the mystery deepens with a series of other discoveries. This is for slow reading and I truly enjoyed trying to unlock the clues.
With more than 20 books in the Sloan series I know I have some good reading ahead.
With more than 20 books in the Sloan series I know I have some good reading ahead.
June 7, 2015
I have been enjoying renewing my acquaintance with this excellent series of mysteries only to find that this is one I haven't actually read before. It was a pleasant surprise. A body is fished out of the sea and appears to have drowned but several aspects of its injuries make Dr Dabbe believe it is murder rather an accident. Sloan and Crosby must try and find out what happened to cause the death and the identity of the corpse.
The mystery is well plotted and though I did work out who I thought the murderer was I didn't work out the motive until nearly the end of the story. I liked the characters and Sloan and Crosby work well together in spite of Sloan's misgivings about Crosby's competence. This is an entertaining and relaxing read for anyone who enjoys cosy mysteries with no on the page violence or bad language and plenty of wry humour.
The mystery is well plotted and though I did work out who I thought the murderer was I didn't work out the motive until nearly the end of the story. I liked the characters and Sloan and Crosby work well together in spite of Sloan's misgivings about Crosby's competence. This is an entertaining and relaxing read for anyone who enjoys cosy mysteries with no on the page violence or bad language and plenty of wry humour.
April 22, 2009
Lovely little British mystery with lots of local 'colour'! Catherine Aird's series of books starring PC C.D. Sloan is a gem. In "Last Respects" Sloan is at first perplexed by an unidentified corpse who was found in water...but had been dead much longer than it appeared. With a full cast of characters drawn from the typical British countryside, it will take all Sloan's detecting skills, despite the 'aid' of his sidekick Crosby, and knowledge of tides, sheep-shearing, and municipal building projects to solve this case.
If you're not familiar with British English, you may want to read this with access to an OED! But Aird does a great job of capturing English country life and character wrapped in clever little mysteries.
If you're not familiar with British English, you may want to read this with access to an OED! But Aird does a great job of capturing English country life and character wrapped in clever little mysteries.
December 19, 2024
A bit darker than other in the series but the humor is still present. A good plot that builds nicely. I love the characters: Sloan, Crosby and the idiot boss.
December 10, 2021
I love Catherine Aird. Poor Inspector Sloan is invariably trapped between his impossible boss who periodically "takes a class" in something and then tries to force the current case into it; and the guy his boss always assigns him, who nobody wants to work with because he's an idiot who drives too fast, asks stupid questions, doesn't take notes when he should, and can't resist bad puns. Plus Sloan generally has to deal with the yakkity coroner who is prone to obscure quotes and trivia, and who is bored by the cases Sloan loves (the ones easy to solve), and delighted in the ones that get Sloan's boss to steaming (because Sloan's boss still hasn't accepted the fact that reality does not bow to his will). Her books are a subtle snark fest beginning to end, except maybe if there's a scene between Sloan and his wife, which tend to be sweet.
This one includes Ridgeford, a reasonably competent cop, a newly wed, who is trying to get information on some presumed bad guys from a not very helpful female informant.
To Mrs Hopton ‘boy’ was a species, not an individual.
Of their age she had been uncertain.
Of their appearance she could tell him nothing beyond that they had been scruffy—but then these days all boys were scruffy, weren’t they?
But she was convinced, and Hopton—even with him being the way he was—agreed with her, that they had been up to no good.
On being pressed to describe them she had advanced the view that one had been taller than the other.
Brian Ridgeford had received this gem of observation in silence.
Mrs Hopton had cogitated still further and eventually disgorged the fact that one of them had called the other ‘Terry’.
As he picked up his helmet and made for the door Constable Ridgeford reflected that it wasn’t a lot to go on. On the other hand, with Jack the Ripper they hadn’t even had a name.
Classic Aird. Every book boils down to one long reminder of why I hated any job that involved working with the public, and yet I am amused while reading them and end them with considerable respect for anyone who'll take such a job and function well within it.
This one includes Ridgeford, a reasonably competent cop, a newly wed, who is trying to get information on some presumed bad guys from a not very helpful female informant.
To Mrs Hopton ‘boy’ was a species, not an individual.
Of their age she had been uncertain.
Of their appearance she could tell him nothing beyond that they had been scruffy—but then these days all boys were scruffy, weren’t they?
But she was convinced, and Hopton—even with him being the way he was—agreed with her, that they had been up to no good.
On being pressed to describe them she had advanced the view that one had been taller than the other.
Brian Ridgeford had received this gem of observation in silence.
Mrs Hopton had cogitated still further and eventually disgorged the fact that one of them had called the other ‘Terry’.
As he picked up his helmet and made for the door Constable Ridgeford reflected that it wasn’t a lot to go on. On the other hand, with Jack the Ripper they hadn’t even had a name.
Classic Aird. Every book boils down to one long reminder of why I hated any job that involved working with the public, and yet I am amused while reading them and end them with considerable respect for anyone who'll take such a job and function well within it.
July 5, 2019
Slow-paced but surprising Aird novel, set on the river. I did not see the solution coming, however slow. Beautiful cover.
August 30, 2020
A floating body is just the pointer to a web of misdeeds.
Read 2 times
Read 2 times
January 16, 2024
The plot isn't necessarily tight but the writing is and very enjoyable as such.
November 20, 2021
Did I not pay enough attention or were there a lot of unresolved sections? Also I seemed to guess this one very quickly.
February 2, 2025
Short but pretty perfectly formed . It was an exercise in historic police procedure , I liked the interplay between the police officers and indeed all the characters ,and the setting ,were brought alive without wasting too many words.
I think it was quite obvious who the killer was - but the extent to which they would go once launched on their plan was frighteningly callous and unpicking their launch into murder neatly unravelled. The bodies do start to accumulate in this peaceful place.
I think it was quite obvious who the killer was - but the extent to which they would go once launched on their plan was frighteningly callous and unpicking their launch into murder neatly unravelled. The bodies do start to accumulate in this peaceful place.
February 6, 2017
Last Respects by Catherine Aird on the other hand was excellent. The mystery opens with the discover of a floating body by a local fisherman. We soon discover that the mysterious corpse did not drown and so the hunt for the murderer is on. Throughout the search, we meet a recently widowed local architect, his young niece whose fiance has just deserted her, DI Sloan, treasure hunters, and local boating men and fisherman. The crime was well planned out and interesting. The characters, especially Frank, Elizabeth and Horace are well drawn and engaging. A quick engaging mystery read in a series that I look forward to reading more in.
October 26, 2017
Good. A tricky murder, well investigated. A body is found in the river: but the PM shows he didn't die in the river, he died from a great fall. Who is he? Where did he fall? Since he ended up in the river, he must have been pushed - so who pushed him? A murder before comes to light, and there is a murder after, and finally it comes to the end with a fourth murder attempted - but Sloan and Crosby arrive in the nick of time. Good reading.
October 17, 2022
An old fashioned English mystery, written in a different era. More dialogue, less action. But enjoyable. Inspector Sloan has to figure out his crimes weaving a path between his pompous superior Superintendent and his dull witted underling, Constable Crosby.
December 9, 2024
An excellent entry in this enjoyable police procedural series, set in the mythical English county of Calleshire. It stars Inspector CD Sloan and his rather hapless assistant, Constable Crosby.
It’s become a running joke in this series that Crosby isn’t the sharpest pencil in the drawer, but I’m glad to see the author continues to tone down the constant harping on his incompetence. It became annoying after the first couple books, and he seems to be getting better at his work - this time, his passion for fast driving certainly came in handy at the climactic finish!
This time, a wily old fisherman finds a dead young man in the Calle River - seems straightforward enough, until Dr. Dabbe, the acerbic police pathologist, tells Sloan the man didn’t die from drowning, but from falling from a great height, then had been in the water for awhile. Other clues further narrowed down where the body would have traveled (fresh water, sea water, etc), until the case becomes very complex! Add in what appears to be salvage from a sunken ship, and Sloan and Crosby are really muddled.
No spoilers, but I really enjoyed this case - the plot at first slow-moving and meandering like the river itself, then clarity gradually emerging and bringing together the many disparate threads in an exciting finish! I admit I was suspicious of the vicious, self-centered killer, but had no idea of motive until near the end. Enjoyable and well done.
It’s become a running joke in this series that Crosby isn’t the sharpest pencil in the drawer, but I’m glad to see the author continues to tone down the constant harping on his incompetence. It became annoying after the first couple books, and he seems to be getting better at his work - this time, his passion for fast driving certainly came in handy at the climactic finish!
This time, a wily old fisherman finds a dead young man in the Calle River - seems straightforward enough, until Dr. Dabbe, the acerbic police pathologist, tells Sloan the man didn’t die from drowning, but from falling from a great height, then had been in the water for awhile. Other clues further narrowed down where the body would have traveled (fresh water, sea water, etc), until the case becomes very complex! Add in what appears to be salvage from a sunken ship, and Sloan and Crosby are really muddled.
No spoilers, but I really enjoyed this case - the plot at first slow-moving and meandering like the river itself, then clarity gradually emerging and bringing together the many disparate threads in an exciting finish! I admit I was suspicious of the vicious, self-centered killer, but had no idea of motive until near the end. Enjoyable and well done.
July 13, 2022
This is the second Inspector Sloan mystery that I've read, and I'm less enthusiastic about it than I was about His Burial Too, the fifth in the series. The mystery was fine, and pretty engaging. But I don't know that I will continue to read Aird because I found her writing to be affected. I don't recall being irritated by her style in His Burial Too, but I suspect she went a good deal lighter on Inspector Sloan's internal commentary. I remember some mental asides of him in that mystery, but they weren't intrusive and added to the characterization.
In this novel, however, it sometimes feel that Sloan spends all of his time coming up with his internal asides, which I gather the reader is supposed to find amusing. But I found them intrusive because they interrupted the narrative flow. The following is one of the more egregious examples of Aird encumbering dialogue with Sloan's mental commentary:
"An artist …" To his own surprise Sloan found he had said the words aloud.
"I’m an architect, Inspector," Mundill said, adding astringently, "There are those of my professional brethren who would have said “yes” to the word artist, though."
"Well, sir, now that you come to mention it …"
"An architect is something of an artist certainly but he’s something of an engineer too." A policeman, thought Sloan, was something of a diplomat.
"As well as being a craftsman and a draughtsman, of course." A policeman was something of a martinet, of course. He had to be.
"And, Inspector, if he’s any good as an architect he’s something of a visionary, too." If a policeman was any good as a policeman he was something of a philosopher too. It didn’t do not to be in the police force.
This may not seem too bad in isolation but imagine reading dialogue intertwined with incessant internal commentary for several pages in a row. It's tiresome and interfered with my enjoyment of the story and the characters (who were otherwise interesting).
In this novel, however, it sometimes feel that Sloan spends all of his time coming up with his internal asides, which I gather the reader is supposed to find amusing. But I found them intrusive because they interrupted the narrative flow. The following is one of the more egregious examples of Aird encumbering dialogue with Sloan's mental commentary:
"An artist …" To his own surprise Sloan found he had said the words aloud.
"I’m an architect, Inspector," Mundill said, adding astringently, "There are those of my professional brethren who would have said “yes” to the word artist, though."
"Well, sir, now that you come to mention it …"
"An architect is something of an artist certainly but he’s something of an engineer too." A policeman, thought Sloan, was something of a diplomat.
"As well as being a craftsman and a draughtsman, of course." A policeman was something of a martinet, of course. He had to be.
"And, Inspector, if he’s any good as an architect he’s something of a visionary, too." If a policeman was any good as a policeman he was something of a philosopher too. It didn’t do not to be in the police force.
This may not seem too bad in isolation but imagine reading dialogue intertwined with incessant internal commentary for several pages in a row. It's tiresome and interfered with my enjoyment of the story and the characters (who were otherwise interesting).
December 3, 2024
This is the tenth book in the Sloan and Crosby series, first published in 1982. It involves the discovery of a body in water by local ne'er do well, Horace Boller. However, despite the body being discovered in water, it did not die by drowning. Soon D I Sloan and DC Cosby are involved in a local mystery which seems centered on Collerton House, home to Elizabeth Busby who has been nursing her dying Aunt Celia, and her aunt's husband, architect Frank Mundell. With the death of her aunt and being recently jilted by her young man, Elizabeth is confused and miserable, vulnerable and yet seems to be at the centre of events.
I always enjoy meeting back up with Sloan and Crosby and I liked the local rural policeman, PC Brian Ridgeford, who finds himself investigating the possible discovery of a wreck and murder. Sloan could tell him, the usual is far easier than the unusual, but of course he unravels what is going on while Crosby irritates him most amusingly. A fun series, highly recommended.
I always enjoy meeting back up with Sloan and Crosby and I liked the local rural policeman, PC Brian Ridgeford, who finds himself investigating the possible discovery of a wreck and murder. Sloan could tell him, the usual is far easier than the unusual, but of course he unravels what is going on while Crosby irritates him most amusingly. A fun series, highly recommended.
March 9, 2021
Although most Inspector Sloan mysteries give you the impression that the author included a short lesson on a subject - hospitals, roses, golf - along with their main plot, this one let the side course almost overtake the actual mystery.
A body is found, some underwater artifacts are found and a whole lot of time is spent on the water. It is probably the only mystery where you wish the authorities just rented a boat with a little fishing motor on it (a trolling motor?) so they could get around more quickly.
Although this is an interesting police procedural in the classic British mystery style - one thing really taints it. When the final outcome is uncovered, very little is said about how truly horrible the murderer is and how foolish and trusting the main female lead is. Perhaps that is simply a sign of the time this novel was written (1982) but - ick. Just ick.
A body is found, some underwater artifacts are found and a whole lot of time is spent on the water. It is probably the only mystery where you wish the authorities just rented a boat with a little fishing motor on it (a trolling motor?) so they could get around more quickly.
Although this is an interesting police procedural in the classic British mystery style - one thing really taints it. When the final outcome is uncovered, very little is said about how truly horrible the murderer is and how foolish and trusting the main female lead is. Perhaps that is simply a sign of the time this novel was written (1982) but - ick. Just ick.
July 16, 2025
Horace Boller, one of the locals, made his living with a small boat doing odd boating jobs, giving tours and taking people without boats to nearby places they needed to go. When he came across a body in the water, he knew he could make a little extra money by reporting it and using his boat to show police where it was. He didn't realize, however, that the person had been murdered before being dumped into the water. C.D. Sloan was then called to investigate, and once again, he ferreted out twists and turns in local occurrences, looked into numerous places and situations that he wouldn't have been expected inspect, and bit by bit uncovered the odd and unexpected situation that had led to the murder.
April 26, 2022
When an unknown man's body turns up on a slow river, Inspector Sloan is called in to investigate. Though it seems he was dropped from a great height, the man didn't drown. He and Constable Crosby will have to work to figure out what is going on.
As a concurrent timeline, we meet Elizabeth Busby. She is a young woman who lost her aunt to stomach cancer and her fiance to... well she's not sure. The man up and left one day. He left a note but it wasn't very helpful. She and her uncle are left to grieve.
With Aird, you know what to expect. Usually a lot going on in the story but it's generally gentle and so very British.
As a concurrent timeline, we meet Elizabeth Busby. She is a young woman who lost her aunt to stomach cancer and her fiance to... well she's not sure. The man up and left one day. He left a note but it wasn't very helpful. She and her uncle are left to grieve.
With Aird, you know what to expect. Usually a lot going on in the story but it's generally gentle and so very British.
June 14, 2022
I had trouble working out whether I liked or disliked the tongue-in-cheek, sardonic commentary on the thought processes of the detective that marks this narrative. It was amusing and provided a powerful portrait of the character, but it was, at times, a little tedious.
The mystery is well plotted and resolution fitting. While this is firmly cosy, it does not compromise consequences in favour of happy endings all around. The crime hurts people, including survivors. I admire that and will try more in the series.
The mystery is well plotted and resolution fitting. While this is firmly cosy, it does not compromise consequences in favour of happy endings all around. The crime hurts people, including survivors. I admire that and will try more in the series.
October 9, 2022
Between 3 and 4 stars for me. We find the body fairly early on - early for Aird - but then there's a lot of background scenes that don't feel at all relevant until the reveal in the last third to a quarter of the book. Still, forensic science that sounds very legit (I wouldn't know if it wasn't) - lots about tides and stuff - and a good solution. The only reason why it might be 3* is that the constant quotes of nursery rhymes and such can get a bit intrusive in what are otherwise serious scenes, and serviceable prose.
March 2, 2023
Sloan and Crosby's tenth outing takes us to the seashore. Fictional Calleshire's geography bears a distinct similarity to the Parts of Lindsey in Lincolnshire. The change of setting takes pride of place in this story as the opening crime is ordinary although it has the expected puzzling aspects. This is the first of her mysteries that I figured out before the denouement, but Ms. Aird's writing style is as entertaining as ever, and the plot is certainly up to par, so I can recommend this one fans of short, entertaining mysteries. This one is more of a 3.5 star effort but I rounded up.
November 24, 2024
Two and a half stars.
An unidentified body floating in the sea. A lost dinghy. A boathouse that has been broken into. Artefacts from a sunk vessel that start to show up in unexpected places. A devoted fiance who stops coming around and a roguish local fisherman who comes around too often.
This mystery is situated around a river estuary, and much of the detective work has to do with currents, tides, beaches and headlands, the behavior of corpses in water. I found it a little hard to follow, and I had sussed out the guilty party pretty early on.
An unidentified body floating in the sea. A lost dinghy. A boathouse that has been broken into. Artefacts from a sunk vessel that start to show up in unexpected places. A devoted fiance who stops coming around and a roguish local fisherman who comes around too often.
This mystery is situated around a river estuary, and much of the detective work has to do with currents, tides, beaches and headlands, the behavior of corpses in water. I found it a little hard to follow, and I had sussed out the guilty party pretty early on.
April 19, 2023
For the second time in a row I guessed the solution and this one was very disturbing. I actually felt something for this villain early on only to become more and more sure that they were the only possible guilty party and then I realized what a cold and self-centered person that really made them.
The usual clever writing was not enough to make up for that. Which is why this one only rates as okay.
The usual clever writing was not enough to make up for that. Which is why this one only rates as okay.
November 22, 2024
I can't remember the last time I had the murder pegged so early. An enjoyable journey with a good narrator. I was glad to have the Kindle edition as well because there were so many literary references. Some I knew but others I needed to track down. Some understandable others I didn't quite catch during the narration. Not a very surprising ending. I thought more highly of the last one of Ms Aird's that I read.
January 12, 2021
Aird is such a good stylist. Her prose is funny and moves along rather quickly. She has such a sure hand with a sentence that I found myself rereading several and reading them out to my husband.
And the culprit was a surprise, but not. As was the method of dispatch. And so many red herrings, but not too many. Well done.
And the culprit was a surprise, but not. As was the method of dispatch. And so many red herrings, but not too many. Well done.
July 24, 2022
Fast moving
An excellent tale with many twists and turns and more deaths than I expected. Sloan's relationship with Crosby is also an interesting study. Sometimes Crosby is embarrassing in his lack of interest in policing. Outside of the storyline itself, is the magnificent use of words. Aird expects her readers to follow at her level. And it is such fun.
An excellent tale with many twists and turns and more deaths than I expected. Sloan's relationship with Crosby is also an interesting study. Sometimes Crosby is embarrassing in his lack of interest in policing. Outside of the storyline itself, is the magnificent use of words. Aird expects her readers to follow at her level. And it is such fun.
October 15, 2023
Very good Detective Inspector Sloan novel about a dead man, supposedly drowned, being discovered ..,fresh water or saltwater? Killed by a fall but from where? It all turns out to be about a man who killed his wife with cyanide, got found out, so he had to do continue to kill..for freedom AND HIS WIFE’S MONEY.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews