Hodgkiss and the Rent Book and other Stories — Peter Sinclair

Hodgkiss doesn't miss a trick. Three new adventures of that cranky, obnoxious, insufferable but remarkably observant and astute senior citizen.Greedy killers think they can get away with a perfect murder by copying the story line of a famous mystery novel. But they are so utterly incompetent that Hodgkiss and son-in-law, Detective Inspector Donald Burke, soon see through their plot and in no time at all Donald is bringing out the handcuffs.Hodgkiss' friend, Pat Strong, involves him in a treasure hunt when a young relation of Pat's is left a valuable diamond ring by an elderly grandmother who has followed her usual practice of hiding the present so the girl has to search for it. But granny dies and it is up to Hodgkiss to interpret the clues left in the granny's last video.When a greedy developer makes a clumsy attempt to compromise an honest council officer his go-between in the devious operation finds himself facing a murder charge. But Hodgkiss, on his way to the local off-leash park with his dog, Rupert, just happens to be in the right place at the wrong time for the killer.