America's leading mystery writers are being brutally murdered. Third-tier author Guy Davitt—a would-be Dashiell Hammett—stumbles upon the killer’s bizarre M.O. (the deaths are lifted from mystery novels). But Davitt cannot convince deeply skeptical police a "Sleuth Slayer" actually exists.

Through a dark labyrinth of film studio power brokers, publishing industry politics, a decadent family's wealthy influence, police immorality—as well as the dawning realization that he himself is on the killer's list—Davitt pursues the truth.

Sleuth Slayer is also available as an ebook on Amazon.com for the Kindle.

Mystery writer Jax Thornton tells his mystery-writing friend Greg Davitt that mystery writers are being killed in murders disguised as accidents. Greg laughs at him and changes the subject; the next day he hears that Jax has been killed in an automobile accident, so Greg begins to wonder if Jax had been right. He attempts to get a judge, who helps him with his legal facts, to take him seriously, but the judge wants facts, not maybes. Then complications arise in the case of Jax, because there is someone who has a real motive for killing him. Finally however, after getting information about the death of one of the other writers, the judge begins to believe that there is a murderer and then the police become involved. As they dig, certain items of coincidence begin to emerge, but the issue is whether Jax's murder is the real one, with the others done to disguise the motive.

Greg and Frances Whiting, a mystery writer who was attacked, continue to investigate the case and they soon discover that the alleged accidents are taken from the plots of previous mystery fiction. This is an interesting concept and formed an excellent basis for the well-developed plot with characters who are skillfully portrayed.

The Burtons are a father and son writing team and this is their first book. It is an involving story, well-written with an unusually different perpetrator with a motive that one would never guess. At least I certainly did not. I have one minor quibble. The authors mention the Agatha award a number of times, but have it being awarded at a place it would never be given. I look forward to reading their next book! RECOMMENDED.

June 22, 2008 - 1:30 to 4:30 pm - Brit's Pub - Nicollet Mall - Minneapolis, MN 55403

October 11, 2008 - 10:00 am -5:00 pm - Twin Cities Book Festival, Minneapolis Community and Technical College.