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: 
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter 1 – Catherine
  
  
  
  
  
  Catherine adjusted the Hermes wrap around her shoulders. Despite the chill of
  the September breeze she loved the promise of a new day ushered in by the
  morning chorus. It was a sound that she’d trusted many years ago to herald a
  new beginning; an awakening from a horrible nightmare.
  
  
  These days she didn't need to force herself upright to fight off sleep in
  order to be ready for the evil across the hall. Or to squint at the bunk beds
  opposite to watch over her younger sisters. She didn't need to make sure
  Alex's limbs jerked occasionally expelling her boundless energy or that Beth's
  intermittent sighs spoke of Ice Cream and Candy Floss. She no longer had to
  fight off the growing warmth of the bed covers to keep her sisters safe.
  
  
  Those long, anxious nights were long gone but she still enjoyed the unspoilt
  canvas of a fresh day. As the day dawned anything was possible, everything
  could be reversed, changed, started, finished. The day could be anything t