A shark out of water

One of the best American mystery series comes to an end with a sort of thud. At her (or rather their) best, Emma Lathen approached a story with a light touch and made each novel's theme more comprehensible. This novel, set mostly in Poland, deals with shipping in the Baltic region and the new Europe. The subject is complicated and needs so much explanation that the characters and story get a little lost. When a shipping disaster closes the Kiel Canal at a time when its renovation is under discussion, a canal supervisor is murdered when he discovers irregularities. John Putnam Thatcher and Everett Gabler, in Poland to investigate the renovation financing, are caught in the chaos and must find the clever land shark who may kill again.

I read this whole series of books some years ago and liked them. It was interesting to go back and read this one.....the banking and investment banking businesses have changed so much over the years that the book seemed dated. I still liked it, but I think there are better books in the series.