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.