Inspector Charlie Salter, a detective with the Toronto Police Department, is assigned to solve the murder of Professor David Summers, an English professor at a local college, who was found dead in a Montreal hotel room during a conference. The only clues are a lipstick-marked glass and a whisky bottle used to crush Summer's skull. As Salter delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of potential suspects, including Summers' mistress, his wife, and his squash partner, leading to a complex and intriguing investigation.
Eric Wright (1929–2015) was a celebrated English-Canadian mystery novelist best known for his Charlie Salter and Joe Barley series. Born in London, England, he immigrated to Canada in 1951. He held a B.A. from the University of Manitoba (1957) and an M.A. from the University of Toronto (1963), and he taught English at Ryerson University from 1958 to 1989. Throughout his distinguished literary career, Wright received numerous honors, including the Arthur Ellis Award, the City of Toronto Book Award, the John Creasey Award, and the Crime Writers of Canada Grand Master Award.