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Mel Pickett #1
Buried in Stone
When the body of notorious womanizer Timmy Marlow is found near retired detective Mel Pickett's weekend getaway, he finds a wide array of suspects and delves beneath the surface to uncover the ingenious scheme of a cunning killer. Reprint.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
About the author
Eric Wright
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Eric Wright was born in London, England and immigrated to Canada in 1951. He is the award-winning author of seventeen crime novels, including his first novel, The Night the Gods Smiled, which won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel, the Crime Writer's Association's John Creasey Award, and the City of Toronto Book Award. His memoir, Always Give a Penny to a Blind Man, about growing up poor in working-class London, was published in 1999.
Eric Wright was born in London, England and immigrated to Canada in 1951. He is the award-winning author of seventeen crime novels, including his first novel, The Night the Gods Smiled, which won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel, the Crime Writer's Association's John Creasey Award, and the City of Toronto Book Award. His memoir, Always Give a Penny to a Blind Man, about growing up poor in working-class London, was published in 1999.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 22, 2021
I read this novel several decades ago, and obviously liked it enough to tuck it into my 're-read' bookshelf, whence I just retrieved it.
On rereading, I found the plot remains ingenious, the characters mostly interesting, and the setting attractive to one who lives in Ontario, Canada as I do. The writing, too, is still tight and workmanlike, although I found from this greater distance that it somehow failed to pull me in as much as I had hoped. I suspect that owes more to changing literary styles than to Wright's capabilities, so I will still give it a solid 3 stars. But I doubt I will be reading it again.
On rereading, I found the plot remains ingenious, the characters mostly interesting, and the setting attractive to one who lives in Ontario, Canada as I do. The writing, too, is still tight and workmanlike, although I found from this greater distance that it somehow failed to pull me in as much as I had hoped. I suspect that owes more to changing literary styles than to Wright's capabilities, so I will still give it a solid 3 stars. But I doubt I will be reading it again.
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February 12, 2026review text for 460
November 7, 2014
I’m relieved Canada’s mystery selection didn’t die with Lyn Hamilton and Charlotte MacLeod. I like “Buried In Stone” and hope Eric expands the series. I’m fastidious about reading in order and learned Mel Pickett derives from a Charlie Salter novel! I’ll look for it.
Now retired, Mel Pickett erects a cottage in a woodsy town. He fits into the thrum of summer travellers and permanent residents; a widower ready to pair up anew. My favourite person is their new theatre director. She is a twenty-five year-old who delights him by speaking blatantly about boyfriends and sexuality, as if he were a same age peer. He has formed ties with townspeople he trusts and the solitary police chief turns to him, when a murder victim appears to be his girlfriend’s brother. Officers intervene from a larger town; a former colleague of Mel’s who approves his assistance. The deceased retrieved from a crevasse is hard to identify. The fact that he wasn’t regarded highly, means the motive of his death could lie in numerous and even unknown directions.
The only lead is to track his origins; again to my city. Mel systematically filters out his circle and the reason this troublesome brother left. Kenora, Ontario is featured again too; a lake town well-known by Winnipeggers like me. There are oddities among Mel’s own residents too and those trails take us to Kenora. I took issue with one comment about Winnipeg: that leisure activities aren’t easily found unless you’re from here. That’s untrue but Eric lovingly shares with us, the thrill and enchanting scenery of crossing Canada by train. It’s important to him that this unparalleled mode of travel remain available. Since this author adeptly keeps the action pointed towards his plot, he can afford to weave in beautiful passages and emotional touches.
Now retired, Mel Pickett erects a cottage in a woodsy town. He fits into the thrum of summer travellers and permanent residents; a widower ready to pair up anew. My favourite person is their new theatre director. She is a twenty-five year-old who delights him by speaking blatantly about boyfriends and sexuality, as if he were a same age peer. He has formed ties with townspeople he trusts and the solitary police chief turns to him, when a murder victim appears to be his girlfriend’s brother. Officers intervene from a larger town; a former colleague of Mel’s who approves his assistance. The deceased retrieved from a crevasse is hard to identify. The fact that he wasn’t regarded highly, means the motive of his death could lie in numerous and even unknown directions.
The only lead is to track his origins; again to my city. Mel systematically filters out his circle and the reason this troublesome brother left. Kenora, Ontario is featured again too; a lake town well-known by Winnipeggers like me. There are oddities among Mel’s own residents too and those trails take us to Kenora. I took issue with one comment about Winnipeg: that leisure activities aren’t easily found unless you’re from here. That’s untrue but Eric lovingly shares with us, the thrill and enchanting scenery of crossing Canada by train. It’s important to him that this unparalleled mode of travel remain available. Since this author adeptly keeps the action pointed towards his plot, he can afford to weave in beautiful passages and emotional touches.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews