title: Chapter and Hearse: And Other Mysteries
author:  Catherine Aird 
description: With 19 mystery novels under her belt, Aird is well known among British whodunit fans. Here she offers a collection of undemanding short stories--light bites for bedtime, beach, or bus reading. The stories are only a few pages long, but they cover a wide range of mystery genres, from mini-police procedurals and espionage thrillers to British cozies. A few stories provoke out-and-out laughter, while others generate genuine suspense. Aird's intrepid Detective Inspector Sloan and his loyal partner, DC Crosby, figure prominently in many of the tales, but she also introduces a host of other intriguing characters, including some British spies and several devilishly clever killers. Some of the standout stories include "A Soldier of the Queen," a humorous account of a nervous sentry, and "Exit Strategy," the dark tale of a woman suffering from senile dementia and her daughter's plans to "help" her. Aird's latest is a bit fluffy, but the charming diversity and cleverly constructed plots of her stories will certainly appeal to readers seeking low-impact entertainment. <i>Emily Melton</i><br /><i>Copyright  American Library Association. All rights reserved</i>
zlib_text: Table of Contents
  Chapter One
  Chapter Two
  Chapter Three
  Chapter Four
  Chapter Five
  Chapter Six
  Chapter Seven
  Chapter Eight
  Chapter Nine
  Chapter Ten
  
  Chapter Eleven
  Chapter Twelve
  Chapter Thirteen
  Chapter Fourteen
  Chapter Fifteen
  Chapter Sixteen
  Chapter Seventeen
  Chapter Eighteen
  Chapter Nineteen
  Chapter Twenty
  Chapter Twenty-one
  Chapter Twenty-two
  Chapter Twenty-three
  Chapter Twenty-four
  Chapter Twenty-five
  Chapter Twenty-six
  Chapter Twenty-seven
  Chapter Twenty-eight
  
  Chapter Twenty-nine
  Chapter Thirty
  Chapter Thirty-one
  Chapter Thirty-two
  Epilogue
  
  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used
  fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
   
  The Countess
   
  A SIGNET Book / published by arrangement with the author
   
  All rights reserved.
  Copyright © 1999 by Catherine Coulter
  This book may not be reproduced in whole 