Dead Soldiers — Bill Crider

Carl Burns just wants to be chair of the English Department at Hartley-Gorman College, a small liberal-arts school in Pecan City, Texas. But if you solve one crime in a small town, as Burns has done, folks think you can solve 'em all--as when some collectible lead soldiers disappear, and Carl is asked by his boss, the dean of the college and the owner of the collection, to help find the missing soldiers pilfered at a party at the dean's house. But before Carl can investigate the theft, a former teacher at the college is shot and a missing toy soldier is left at the scene--throwing Carl into an uneasy partnership with Boss Napier, Pecan City's police chief and Carl's rival for the affections of the school librarian.