The Case of the Coroner's Apprentice

Alex Young, police detective, has been assigned to investigate a case of murder and mutilation. Three bright, young students of psychology, all of whom have recently been awarded Masters' degrees in their respective fields, have had their body parts discovered in various locations all over the city. Why? It is Alex's job to find out, and he tackles the job with his usual (less than total) enthusiasm. He maps out a strategy and follows each clue doggedly. He and his coroner friend, James Larson exchange views on human quirks, and they banter in a sincere effort to make sense of a truly grizzly investigation. Some of the people whom they interview in the course of their investigation wind up being bodies also and thus additional parts of the mounting mystery. Alex, as usual, makes mistakes. He sees danger where none exists and virtue where it does not dwell. He persists. He suspects everyone until his old-fashioned instincts point him in the direction of the crime's perpetrator, or...so he thinks. It is during the court proceedings that the truth ultimatel7y is revealed. In the interim, we are treated to intimate character development, suspenseful action and the kind of thought-provoking guessing games which make for a page-turning read. The reader will be able to work through the clues along with Detective Young, and may be as surprised as he is at the outcome.