“The Monster in the Box” is an English psychological murder mystery staring Inspector Wexford. Inspector Wexford is lots different from the American detectives in other books that I’ve been reading lately. His main technique is to ask suspects and witnesses lots and lots of questions and then ponder their answers. This is not to say the book is boring. It is very interesting. The emphasis is not on the action, its on the characters and their motivations, background, and character.

 This book has a serial murderer who Wexford thinks may have been killing or 30 years or more. The book involves a possible honor killing, an escaped pet lion, familial coverups, and lots and lots of questions.

Inspector Wexford is totally unlike some of the American detectives in fiction. He seems to have a stable home life, doesn’t drink to excess and he manages  his business without getting into a fist fights or a gun battles or seducing the principal suspect. Somehow, he is an interesting guy anyway.

I found the book quite compelling. It is the 22nd Inspector Wexford novel. I’ll be reading more.

I give the book 3.5 stars out of 4. I’ll be reading more of them.

BTW – This book completes the 2009 Pub Challenge for me to read at least nine books in 2009 that were first published in 2009. By my count I read 18 such books, so far.

Also, I have completed the Support Your Local Library Challenge. I also read 18 books on that list. There is a lot of overlap between the two challenges but not 100%.