Corpus Delicti

A body with too many kidneys is just one of the darkly delectable treats in British author McCarthy’s outstanding seventh mystery to feature forensics pathologist John Eisenmenger (after 2008’s With a Passion Put to Use ). After Helena Flemming, John’s solicitor girlfriend, suddenly ditches him for another man, John decides to become an on-call pathologist again, much as he dislikes the work. His first case—the knifing murder of petty criminal Billy Whipple—reunites him with Insp. Beverley Wharton. While investigating an apparently unrelated case, the disappearance of the son of an influential Cheltenham medical official, Beverley must care for her dying brother, Jack, as well as deal with a superior looking for any excuse to sack her. McCarthy tweaks this spine-tingler with jittery twists, including a shocking ending. The utterly human frailties of the principal characters don’t get in the way of their crime solving but only enhance it. (Feb.)