Richard (Dickie) Dinsdale was found dead in a grouse butt (which I think is like a duck blind) after having been bitten by a snake. Although adder bites are not usually fatal, Mr. Dinsdale was asthmatic, which might have made him more vulnerable than the average person.

There is no shortage of suspects for, indeed, Dickie was on the outs with almost everyone. He had inherited the management of a chain of supermarkets from his father Ronnie. Unfortunately, the elder Mr. Dinsdale now suffers from dementia and his compassion for his employees and the other village folk has not been adopted by his son. Dickie cared little for anyone other than himself, firing and demoting employees to best bolster the company’s profits. In addition, he was interested in investing in a scheme that would rake havoc on the local environment, both physically and economically. As a result, everyone seemed to gain by his death, so the field of suspects, assuming he was, in fact, murdered, is large.

Graham Thomas has provided a terrific story for those readers who like to match wits with the detective. At least a half dozen people have a logical reason for wanting Dickie dead, and at least as many have the opportunity to engineer his death. The reader gets to accompany Chief Inspector Powell and his assistant, the comely Miss Evans, as they interview potential suspects. Although there is not a lot of action, excitement is generated trying to puzzle out the identity of the perpetrator from the evidence gathered in the interviews. This makes the story move along rapidly.

Characterization is one of the strongest points of Malice on the Moors. The characters are truly human. Most are basically good people, but with flaws that make them susceptible to pressures that make them act with less than the most noble actions. The local townsfolk while not the most sophisticated or well educated, are honest, compassionate, and quite intelligent -- almost the antithesis of the deceased. It was difficult to not applaud Dickie’s death.

As an added bonus for those readers eager to stock up on obscure knowledge, there is a good introduction to the sport of grouse hunting. A well-grounded knowledge of British English would be an asset for any reader of this book. However, if one is willing to guess at the meaning of words from context, or consult a good dictionary, this is not an insurmountable problem.

The ending did fall a bit flat. Powell competently figures out who the killer must be, but his confrontation with the killer in a remote area does not speak well for his common sense. Surely, a man who has been a policeman for many years should know better than that. His subsequent rescue was only one small step short of divine intervention.

Graham Thomas also provides an enchanting description of the Yorkshire countryside and the weather that is typical of the region. Fog plays an important role in the plot, providing alibis for some and obscurity for others. The real flavor of British country life comes through loud and clear.

--Andy Plonka