The Tenth Life

Captain Heimrich #23

by Richard Lockridge

In very good condition, ex-library book.

Genres: Mystery

201 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

An American writer of detective fiction, Richard Lockridge's frequent collaborator was his wife Frances Lockridge, who co-wrote the Mr. and Mrs. North mystery series and other popular books.

The couple also published under the shared pseudonym Francis Richards.

Reviews

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

When M. L. & Susan Heimrich's Great Dane Colonel falls ill, they take him to Dr. Adrian Barton's veterinary clinic. His assistant Carol Arnold tells them that the doctor is finishing up a surgery and will be right with them. But after time goes by and no doctor, Inspector Heimrich asks Carol to check how much longer it will be. Well...it's going to be quite a long time because the doctor is dead. It looks like the middle-aged Barton has had a stroke or a heart attack or perhaps a diabetic coma, but all of Heimrich's police alarm bells are going off and he's not so sure. And when the analyst finds curare in the syringe discovered under Barton's body, it winds up his alarm bells were ringing out murder.

But who wanted the veterinarian dead? Did his wife think he was messing around with the pretty young Carol Arnold and decide death was better than divorce? Did Carol's young man decide the "old" vet was too interested in his young assistant. Did one of the pet owners decide to take revenge for their pet's death? Are any of these motives strong enough to warrant murder? Apparently someone had a grievance strong enough to kill over, but will Heimrich find the right one before the killer strikes again?

This is the last of the Heimrich novels and it was good to see the Inspector and Lieutenant Charley Forniss and Corporal Purvis in one last outing. The mystery is pretty straightforward and it shouldn't be difficult for those well-acquainted with the series to spot the killer. But I don't really read these for intricate plots. I enjoy the comfortable characters who behave in ways I've grown accustomed to and whom I live very much. Heimrich has been at this long enough that he knows when murder has occurred, even when it's not immediately obvious. And I've been reading the Lockridge books long enough that I know which characters are the most likely villains no matter how many red herrings he tries to throw my way. It was interesting to see curare used as the murder method in a modern mystery (pardon me, my Gen X card is showing--the seventies don't seem like they should be 50 years ago...). I thought everyone had given up the "obscure" South American poison long before then. But it does fit with the veterinary setting since it was used at one time (in very small doses) to immobilize animals for treatment. While this isn't the strongest of the Lockridge books, it was a nice comfortable read and a solid ending for the series.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early Bird Book Deal | The end of the Heimrich series | And I will miss the whole bunch of them. This is not the strongest in the series, it was obvious which way the wind was blowing from the start, because you don't include that much detail about a trivial point in a mystery unless it's going to be important later. But we get to briefly see Michael and Joan, spend one more book with ML and Susan, Forniss, and the region. For those who worry about Colonel he's getting old, but he's ok. The illness that takes them to the vet passes quickly on its own, so Colonel survives the series, as does his little cat Mite.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book I've read by this author. Not impressed. I don't like his style of writing. It is very choppy. It is hard to follow sometimes because of the shortened statements and also it seems like he leaves out some information. The story is ok but most of the characters seem to be the same. They talk the same. I have started on the second book and the characters in it talk and are described the same as in this book. I borrowed all four books that my library had because the covers and titles were intriguing. I will read these but will probably not try to find any others.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last book in the Heimrich series (had to read out of order, as received through Interlibrary loan & is due this week). When their aging Great Dane appears to be failing the Heimrich’s make an emergency visit to the vet but find him dead in his lab. Happenstance related to the vet’s diabetes or murder? Good story, sorry to have the series end.

[Mary Quain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Old school detective genre

Inspector Heimrich and his wife Susan fit the old Nick and Nora Charles mold, with no children to get in the way of their pre-dinner cocktails and conversations about the case he was currently working on. No foul language or steamy sex scenes, and no violence. Quaint, simple, and not very interesting.

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last book in the Inspector Heimrich Series. Colonel (a great dane) that lives with the Heimrich's takes ill. They arrive after hours at the vet's place and his assistant finds him dead.

The book has lets us see all the Heimrichs together for a bit. We see Charlie Forniss, and we see the changes to Van Brunt which has become less a small town and more a commuter town. We also get to see the wonderful, poetic, descriptions of animals and the way they move and look. (Not a surprise since Frances & Richard wrote Cats and People.)

A pleasant way to end the series, though everyone has aged, and while they may feel their bones a bit more, they seem content. The end, where we just follow the sum up with Susan and M.L. on the terrace sitting and talking and watching... is a perfect ending. Regardless of how tricky life is, they have a place and person where they belong, and have peace.

This is one of the last books that Lockridge wrote, and while some of these later books were sometimes wobbly (like the very early ones) this one feels grounded and well-planned.