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Inspector Sloan #27
Inheritance Tracks
Detectives Sloan and Crosby investigate a fatal inheritance settlement in the twenty-fifth instalment of this popular cozy mystery series
Four strangers arrive at the solicitors' office of Puckle, Puckle, and Nunnery. They have never met, and have no idea why they have been invited. But they - along with a missing man - are descendants of the late Algernon George Culver Mayton, the inventor of 'Mayton's Marvellous Mixture' and each entitled to a portion of the Mayton Fortune. But before they can split the money, the missing man must be found. Two months later, Detectives Sloan and Crosby receive a call that one of the legatees has died following an attack of food poisoning. Did the deceased merely ingest a noxious substance by accident, or are the legatees being picked off one-by-one?
Four strangers arrive at the solicitors' office of Puckle, Puckle, and Nunnery. They have never met, and have no idea why they have been invited. But they - along with a missing man - are descendants of the late Algernon George Culver Mayton, the inventor of 'Mayton's Marvellous Mixture' and each entitled to a portion of the Mayton Fortune. But before they can split the money, the missing man must be found. Two months later, Detectives Sloan and Crosby receive a call that one of the legatees has died following an attack of food poisoning. Did the deceased merely ingest a noxious substance by accident, or are the legatees being picked off one-by-one?
200 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
21 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Aird
68 books193 followers Kinn Hamilton McIntosh, known professionally as Catherine Aird, was an English novelist. She was the author of more than twenty crime fiction novels and several collections of short stories. Her witty, literate, and deftly plotted novels straddle the "cozy" and "police procedural" genres and are somewhat similar in flavour to those of Martha Grimes, Caroline Graham, M.C. Beaton, Margaret Yorke, and Pauline Bell. Aird was inducted into the prestigious Detection Club in 1981, and is a recipient of the 2015 Cartier Diamond Dagger award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 30, 2025
An absorbing entry in the Inspector Sloan and Detective Constable Crosby series. This is volume #27. The end was quite chilling in that the murder was quite matter of fact about their deeds.
Standout quotes:
"Just as the sainted surgeon William Hunter said, "Anatomy is the basis of surgery, it informs the head, guides the hand and familiarizes the heart to a kind of necessary inhumanity."
"When you win you party," said Sloan, "When you lose you learn."
"The good things that happen become happy memories." - Sloan
"And the bad ones, sir?" - Crosby
"You're a police officer Crosby, so you put them down to experience." - Sloan
Update: July 2025 - Reading a paperback copy of this book aloud with Simon.
We noticed some of the eloquent vocabulary that you don't often hear nowadays such as: "obviously a last-ditcher by nature," apparently this means somebody who has to have the last word.
In another example DI Sloan discovers that Pickford plays defense on the rugby team. "In Sloan's book that would make him a muddied oaf rather than a flanneled fool."
Standout quotes:
"Just as the sainted surgeon William Hunter said, "Anatomy is the basis of surgery, it informs the head, guides the hand and familiarizes the heart to a kind of necessary inhumanity."
"When you win you party," said Sloan, "When you lose you learn."
"The good things that happen become happy memories." - Sloan
"And the bad ones, sir?" - Crosby
"You're a police officer Crosby, so you put them down to experience." - Sloan
Update: July 2025 - Reading a paperback copy of this book aloud with Simon.
We noticed some of the eloquent vocabulary that you don't often hear nowadays such as: "obviously a last-ditcher by nature," apparently this means somebody who has to have the last word.
In another example DI Sloan discovers that Pickford plays defense on the rugby team. "In Sloan's book that would make him a muddied oaf rather than a flanneled fool."
September 17, 2019
I had feared that, with English cozy author Catherine Aird in her 90s, her 2016’s Learning Curve would be her last. Luckily, no, and we have the 25th novel in this wonderful series that features the put-open Inspector Christopher D. (“Seedy” to his friends) Sloan and the perennially young and dimwitted Constable William Cosby, both of F Division of the Calleshire County Constabulary.
A Victorian snake-oil salesman made a pile from his gimcrack nostrum, but he leaves the money in trust for future descendants. Now is the time to distribute the trust money and there are six legatees — although one can’t be found. When one of the legatees is poisoned, Sloan, reluctantly working with Cosby, becomes involved. The mystery proves irresistible, and, both longtime fans and those new to the series will savor every moment of the book. Highly recommended.
A Victorian snake-oil salesman made a pile from his gimcrack nostrum, but he leaves the money in trust for future descendants. Now is the time to distribute the trust money and there are six legatees — although one can’t be found. When one of the legatees is poisoned, Sloan, reluctantly working with Cosby, becomes involved. The mystery proves irresistible, and, both longtime fans and those new to the series will savor every moment of the book. Highly recommended.
August 3, 2020
Maybe it's the pandemic, but I didn't care for this as much as I usually like this author. Inspector Sloan, saddled as usual by PC Crosby and his youthful inefficiency, is asked by a local solicitor just why a retired woman died. The solicitor wants to be sure it was natural causes, since the woman was one of six heirs to a fortune left through the generations by her great- great- great-grandfather. It's no surprise that natural causes were not involved. The second murder wasn't even one of the heirs. Most of them are eager for their big payday, but they must wait until the sixth heir is found, and he's (probably) down-and-out, perhaps one of the men who sleeps rough in the city center. It's all very typical of Aird, but perhaps the writing isn't quite as sharp or the editing quite as clean as they usually are. It left me vaguely disappointed rather than eager to re-read.
September 2, 2019
So happy that Sloan and Crosby are back! This is the usual cleverly plotted, full of clues if you can find 'em offering from Catherine Aird. I'm not sure that the culprit was hidden quite well enough, but that's just my minor quibble.
The banter is also as usual a delight, especially between Sloan and the Superintendent. Crosby is his usual, bumbling but well meaning self. Need I mention that Ms. Aird's specialty is sharply delineated, unique characters? You'll love Mr. Puckle especially, of the law firm Puckle, Puckle and Nunnery, whose call to the descendants of a very rich man sets everything in motion..
I have one disappointment, which involves that very rich man's endowment, and it's impossible to describe without giving away the plot. Perhaps when you read to the absolute end you'll know what I mean. But it didn't spoil my enjoyment of another Crosby and Sloan outing, and it won't spoil yours, either.
The banter is also as usual a delight, especially between Sloan and the Superintendent. Crosby is his usual, bumbling but well meaning self. Need I mention that Ms. Aird's specialty is sharply delineated, unique characters? You'll love Mr. Puckle especially, of the law firm Puckle, Puckle and Nunnery, whose call to the descendants of a very rich man sets everything in motion..
I have one disappointment, which involves that very rich man's endowment, and it's impossible to describe without giving away the plot. Perhaps when you read to the absolute end you'll know what I mean. But it didn't spoil my enjoyment of another Crosby and Sloan outing, and it won't spoil yours, either.
August 29, 2019
Appealing British police procedural featuring C.D. Sloan, a police inspector sandwiched between his pompous and insufferable boss and his clueless underling. The mystery is always well done but the real treat is the dry and intelligent British humor.
November 3, 2019
Well, I am certainly pleased that Aird (at the age of 89) came out with another book. You go girl! Love this series, and have just received a copy of Last Writes (a collection of short stories told in the Insp. Sloan world.).
In this there is a collection of people who are to receive an unusual inheritance. However, one of the inheritors dies, suspiciously. Then another person dies. Sloan is baffled about why anyone would kill this woman, except to make more money but even that seems absurd since it doesn’t seem to effect the general amount to any degree in general.
As usual, there are other things happening in the story. There is concern among the “store” owners about homeless people in the area, and where they congregate. There is also the continuing education of Crosby by Sloan.
The ending of this story, is a testament to the relationship between Sloan and Crosby, and the difference of not just age, but experience that creates a gap between the two. And at the same time, the fact that they are in the same field unites them, as they both seek to right wrongs.
I don’t know if Aird plans to write more, but I’m up for reading more.
In this there is a collection of people who are to receive an unusual inheritance. However, one of the inheritors dies, suspiciously. Then another person dies. Sloan is baffled about why anyone would kill this woman, except to make more money but even that seems absurd since it doesn’t seem to effect the general amount to any degree in general.
As usual, there are other things happening in the story. There is concern among the “store” owners about homeless people in the area, and where they congregate. There is also the continuing education of Crosby by Sloan.
The ending of this story, is a testament to the relationship between Sloan and Crosby, and the difference of not just age, but experience that creates a gap between the two. And at the same time, the fact that they are in the same field unites them, as they both seek to right wrongs.
I don’t know if Aird plans to write more, but I’m up for reading more.
December 23, 2020
Four strangers arrive at a Solicitor's office to find they are all heirs of a long forgotten Great-grandfather, one heir to still be located. When one of the four dies it is up to Sloan & Crosby to investigate...
Although I am very familiar w/ Aird as a writer of mysteries, I have no recollection of reading her prior to this.
No matter that the story was interesting, I found Crosby to be such an overly obnoxious arse, especially for a detective, that I'll never read another again.
Although I am very familiar w/ Aird as a writer of mysteries, I have no recollection of reading her prior to this.
No matter that the story was interesting, I found Crosby to be such an overly obnoxious arse, especially for a detective, that I'll never read another again.
January 29, 2020
I have read a couple of Catherine Aird's earlier Sloan books ages ago and enjoyed them. They are light, cozy crime. This wasn't as good as I remember those having been, but is still a pleasant easy read.
April 17, 2020
An enjoyable new Sloan and Crosby whodunnit, half police procedural, half standard whodunnit. The premise, almost a tontine, as the cast of prospective inheritors become the obvious cast of suspects, was a little strained.
The GR blurb:
‘Detectives Sloan and Crosby investigate a fatal inheritance settlement in the twenty-fifth instalment of this popular cozy mystery series
Four strangers arrive at the solicitors' office of Puckle, Puckle, and Nunnery. They have never met, and have no idea why they have been invited. But they - along with a missing man - are descendants of the late Algernon George Culver Mayton, the inventor of 'Mayton's Marvellous Mixture' and each entitled to a portion of the Mayton Fortune. But before they can split the money, the missing man must be found. Two months later, Detectives Sloan and Crosby receive a call that one of the legatees has died following an attack of food poisoning. Did the deceased merely ingest a noxious substance by accident, or are the legatees being picked off one-by-one?’
The GR blurb:
‘Detectives Sloan and Crosby investigate a fatal inheritance settlement in the twenty-fifth instalment of this popular cozy mystery series
Four strangers arrive at the solicitors' office of Puckle, Puckle, and Nunnery. They have never met, and have no idea why they have been invited. But they - along with a missing man - are descendants of the late Algernon George Culver Mayton, the inventor of 'Mayton's Marvellous Mixture' and each entitled to a portion of the Mayton Fortune. But before they can split the money, the missing man must be found. Two months later, Detectives Sloan and Crosby receive a call that one of the legatees has died following an attack of food poisoning. Did the deceased merely ingest a noxious substance by accident, or are the legatees being picked off one-by-one?’
November 16, 2019
Strangers are called to the solicitor's office of Puckle, Puckle, and Nunnery. Soon, they find out that they are each a descendant of the late Algernon George Culver Mayton, the inventor of "Mayton's Marvellous Mixture." Each visitor is entitled to a portion of the Mayton fortune. The wrinkle in this situation was that no money can be split until a fifth (missing) descendant could be found.
When one of the four is found deceased, Puckle calls the police to report his concerns. The case falls to Detective Sloan and Constable Crosby. They must figure out if the deceased woman died of accidental ingestion or if more of the legatees are in danger of dying suddenly.
Crosby has more speaking parts in this novel; which is a source of much amusement. For probably the first time, I figured out the murderer before the end of the story. However, getting to the end is the fun part with Catherine Aird. 4.5 stars
When one of the four is found deceased, Puckle calls the police to report his concerns. The case falls to Detective Sloan and Constable Crosby. They must figure out if the deceased woman died of accidental ingestion or if more of the legatees are in danger of dying suddenly.
Crosby has more speaking parts in this novel; which is a source of much amusement. For probably the first time, I figured out the murderer before the end of the story. However, getting to the end is the fun part with Catherine Aird. 4.5 stars
October 11, 2020
Catherine Aird's early Inspector C. D. Sloan novels are tightly knit, elegant, and funny; this late one is a pale reflection of her best work. The book is overlong, rambling, and without charm. There is no character development, and the culprit is very obvious.
Aird's first Sloan mystery was published in 1966. He and his family and the other characters have remained exactly the same age as when the series started, but the world has aged and changed around them, Sloan (who would be in his 80s if he had aged "normally") is now dealing with DNA. The passage of time is a difficult problem to resolve with series detectives, and it has not been well handled here.
Rather than read this book, read some of Aird's first novels; they are a delight.
Aird's first Sloan mystery was published in 1966. He and his family and the other characters have remained exactly the same age as when the series started, but the world has aged and changed around them, Sloan (who would be in his 80s if he had aged "normally") is now dealing with DNA. The passage of time is a difficult problem to resolve with series detectives, and it has not been well handled here.
Rather than read this book, read some of Aird's first novels; they are a delight.
May 27, 2022
This is a quickly read cozy police procedural. Although it is the twenty-seventh in the series, it is unnecessary to have read any others, as each book is entire and complete in itself, an no references are made to earlier cases. What I like best about the series is the very subtle British humor, especially regarding the relationship between Sloan and Crosby, which never changes. In this book, an ancient trust is about to be dispensed to its unknown inheritors — once one more can be found, dead or alive. But when one of those heirs is found dead in suspicious circumstances, Sloan and Crosby are called. Recommended.
September 29, 2023
This is the second one of this series I have read. Sadly, it appears the character of PC Crosby does not grow or change. He's an idiot whose only apparent purpose is to provide some light relief, but even at this he fails. His snarky asides are simply boring, and Sloan should have jumped on him ages ago, but he never does.
Perhaps if I could get hold of one of the earlier ones just for comparison - the series was first published in 1966 - I might read one more. These guys have been going for more than 50 years and seemingly haven't aged at all.
The mystery is interesting enough but it doesn't make up for the moronic dialogue.
Perhaps if I could get hold of one of the earlier ones just for comparison - the series was first published in 1966 - I might read one more. These guys have been going for more than 50 years and seemingly haven't aged at all.
The mystery is interesting enough but it doesn't make up for the moronic dialogue.
March 6, 2022
Catherine Aird started this series back in the 1960s and she must have been 89 years old when this book was published in 2019. This is a cosy police procedural set in the south east of England. Detective Inspector Sloan and his bumbling assistant Detective Constable Crosby have never aged though the stories are set in the present. The author writes with wit and humour and although I figured out the identity of the murderer early on I enjoyed reading this.
July 29, 2025
You could be forgiven thinking that the title is a rework of Inheritance Tax!
But the plot has several tracks concerning the last will and testament of a distant relative from many years ago. We learn that a will can't be disbursed until the solicitors have ensured that all the legatees are accounted for...
However, there are some murders.
We explore each of the legatees and the police try to determine who murdered one of the legatees and the motive...
But the plot has several tracks concerning the last will and testament of a distant relative from many years ago. We learn that a will can't be disbursed until the solicitors have ensured that all the legatees are accounted for...
However, there are some murders.
We explore each of the legatees and the police try to determine who murdered one of the legatees and the motive...
July 29, 2025
You could be forgiven thinking that the title is a rework of Inheritance Tax!
But the plot has several tracks concerning the last will and testament of a distant relative from many years ago. We learn that a will can't be disbursed until the solicitors have ensured that all the legatees are accounted for...
However, there are some murders.
We explore each of the legatees and the police try to determine who murdered one of the legatees and the motive...
But the plot has several tracks concerning the last will and testament of a distant relative from many years ago. We learn that a will can't be disbursed until the solicitors have ensured that all the legatees are accounted for...
However, there are some murders.
We explore each of the legatees and the police try to determine who murdered one of the legatees and the motive...
February 16, 2020
I had not read a CD Sloan series books in quite a
while and I found this one a bit disappointing.
It had its moments and the doltish Crosby
and Superintendent Leeyes provided some
amusement, but the overall crime seemed
too contrived, and in the end I think the
reader knows who did it before the police
did, but perhaps not the 'why'.
while and I found this one a bit disappointing.
It had its moments and the doltish Crosby
and Superintendent Leeyes provided some
amusement, but the overall crime seemed
too contrived, and in the end I think the
reader knows who did it before the police
did, but perhaps not the 'why'.
January 23, 2021
My first exposure to Inspector Sloan; despite it being, I understand, the 27th in the ‘franchise’.
Light hearted throughout with some good understated humour and nicely written but the plot was stretched pretty thin. Felt like it was the 27th book in a production line that has now run out of ideas.
Nonetheless I may go back to book number one and see if the early story lines were better.
Light hearted throughout with some good understated humour and nicely written but the plot was stretched pretty thin. Felt like it was the 27th book in a production line that has now run out of ideas.
Nonetheless I may go back to book number one and see if the early story lines were better.
January 2, 2024
Murder by poison , heirs to an inheritance all under suspicion , an interesting detective duo … it’s all a bit golden age ( if only they were all guests at a country house at Christmas) but an enjoyable read.
There were no real surprises but I’m going to look for some of the earlier books in this series.
There were no real surprises but I’m going to look for some of the earlier books in this series.
August 12, 2021
My first book by this author and probably my last. The plot was stretched pretty thinly, the characters were not particularly well rounded or likeable and it tailed off at the end. Wouldn’t recommend and probably won’t read any more of the series based on this one.
June 27, 2023
Cosy crime writer I've been reading for many decades. She wrote this in her late 80s and sadly it shows. A good opening and premise to the mystery - but far too much padding & meandering! And the culprit was obvious very quickly into the story.
July 30, 2024
I saw the solution far too early and kept waiting for a twist. I’ve read other books in the series, and enjoyed them more. In my opinion, none of the characters are compelling enough to make up for a lack of mystery.
February 9, 2025
I liked it. It's an intriguing murder mystery in the police procedural style. The police officers are the interesting characters: DI Sloan, Superintendent Leeyes, and best of all is Constable Crosby. Readers will also get a short course in English trust law and the Married Women's Property Act.
October 3, 2019
Something light to read. Not a big mystery but kept me busy.
October 7, 2021
Not one of my favorites in this series. (kindle edition)
June 24, 2022
Three and a half stars.
A quite enjoyable, if lightweight, read.
A quite enjoyable, if lightweight, read.
August 9, 2022
Well this one did surprise me. Really, though, because the answer was more obvious than I was thinking, lol. Not sure if that's good or bad, but I do enjoy the characters.
December 8, 2022
shoot I remembered wrong.
On second reading i thought I knew who dunnit but I was wrong. Sadly so. Good book. Clever bit added at end.
On second reading i thought I knew who dunnit but I was wrong. Sadly so. Good book. Clever bit added at end.
February 27, 2023
I enjoyed the story driven plot. Details are well connected.
August 12, 2025
Intriguing
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews