Salty Waters

The title suggests the solution to the mystery in this smooth, slightly melancholy British procedural from the author of A Cool Killing . Having just broken off with his girlfriend, Detective-Inspector Alec Stainton isn't having much fun on a seaside holiday he'd expected to spend with her. His mood worsens when he's asked to investigate the murder of Tracy Ashford, a local girl whose body is fished from the sea. This unconventional, fun-loving young woman had recently lost her local beauty-queen title after posing for nude photographs. Alec finds no lack of suspects among the men in Tracy's life, including a city council leader, an old school friend, a young doctor who'd been spurned, a strange, burly video-game vendor, not to mention Tracy's fast-moving friends. Dogged police work combined with sharp intelligence lead Alec and his former girlfriend, who is assigned to assist him midway, to a resolution of the case, but not, alas, to their personal difficulties. This is solid, satisfying fare. (Jan.)