Charlie Harris is a librarian in Athena, Mississippi. Along
with his Maine coon cat, Diesel, they have taken the town by
storm. Charlie's son has been living with him and another
roommate. When Charlie's daughter, Laura, returns home for a
semester of teaching, Charlies is thrilled. He loves having
his children around.
Laura got the job at the college through an old boyfriend,
Connor Lawton, a former inhabitant of Athena and a well-
known playwright. Laura will be the acting coach for the
play he is writing.
Connor manages to alienate everyone he comes in contact
with. His drinking is increasing and his increasingly
vitriolic wit drive everyone away. Laura is the only one who
can calm him down to some extent.
When Laura finds Connor dead, the police start to look at
her as probable suspect. Charlie and Diesel will have to
investigate to save his daughter from going to jail.
FILE M FOR MURDER is intelligently written, with very
likable characters and a very tightly woven plot. This
series is charming and eminently readable. My only quibble
with is that Charlie almost never calls his daughter by
name. He uses terms of endearment throughout the entire
book. For some strange reason, I found it a little annoying.
Don't let that put you off a very good read, though.
Athena College's new writer in residence is native son and
playwright Connor Lawton, known for his sharp writing-and
sharper tongue. After an unpleasant encounter, librarian
Charlie Harris heads home to a nice surprise: his daughter
Laura is subbing for another Athena professor. Unfortunately
her old flame Connor Lawton got her the job. But before
Connor finishes his newest play, he's murdered-and Laura is
the prime suspect. Charlie and his faithful cat, Diesel,
follow Connor's cluttered trail to find the true killer
before his daughter is forever catalogued under M...for
murderer.