True crime writer Frederick Mace whose latest book is based on the premise that ninety percent of all murders are rooted in the breaking of one of the Ten Commandments has another idea. Mace has chosen to include one unsolved case in his book, the Oxbury case, and becomes intrigued with the second murder when it occurs.

By studying the two victims and their murders from a writer’s point of view, Mace comes to the conclusion that Webb is not dealing with a serial killer, but two different murders. When Mace is attacked and his study is ransacked after announcing his theory in a television interview, Webb decides Mace’s idea may have merit. He begins to look into the possibility of a copycat murder.

While Webb and his colleges are doggedly pursuing their suspects, and Mace is continuing his research on the book, the lives of their friends and families weave complex and interconnected tales in and around the murder. Unfortunately, the Maces and their friends are not substantial characters, and while their movements are peripherally connected with the murder, they do very little to move the plot or investigation along.

Webb’s casual girlfriend Hannah (who has appeared in previous mysteries) is faced with a dilemma of her own: the head of her school returns after a year of sabbatical, during which Hannah replaced her. Hannah is very ambivalent toward Gwen’s return and giving up the charge, yet when Gwen announces she may take a position in Canada, Hannah waivers the other way, feeling she may not be up to the task.

The Ten Commandments (Fraser’s fourteenth novel) plods along at a comfortable, if somewhat slow, pace. There is not much urgency to solve the crime (even when Webb feels this may be a serial killer), nor is there an investigation to see if there are other, similar unsolved crimes. There is not much tension, or even surprise in the final resolution. This is a typical, predictable, if somewhat tame, English police procedural.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry