THE LAST HAND

Toronto's Charlie Salter, head and sole member of the Special Affairs Unit, which deals with only the most sensitive police investigations, takes on his 11th and not terribly compelling case before turning in his badge, as proclaimed on the striking if somewhat cheesy jacket, which displays an ace of spades in a disembodied hand. Charlie has reached 60, the limit for Canadian police to retire from active service, but he's lost none of his smarts as he looks into the murder of a prominent lawyer found stabbed to death in his apartment, which a woman, who neighbors say dressed like a prostitute, was seen to leave. So far the search for the woman, or any other clues, has been fruitless. Charlie has been accused of being behind the times, not up on the latest innovations in police work, but he has his own methods, following routine q&a wherever it may lead him. Here the trail takes him to a poker game among Toronto's leading lawyers and, ultimately, to a state-of-the-black-arts stock swindler. Charlie is a congenial character, and the glimpses of his family life are the best parts of the story. Unfortunately, minimal suspense and a lack of concern for the victim, not to mention a dull villain, make this a standard, by-the-numbers mystery. Still, Wright (The Night the Gods Smiled, etc.) fans will fondly remember better books in the series and mourn Charlie's passing if this is indeed his last case. (Feb. 25)

FYI:Wright is also the author of the Lucy Trimble and Mel Pickett series.