Charlie Salter Series

The Charlie Salter mystery series by Eric Wright follows Toronto police inspector Charlie Salter through 11 compelling investigations published between 1983 and 2001, beginning with The Night the Gods Smiled. As a middle-aged detective balancing complex police work with his evolving personal life, Salter remains a deeply relatable and iconic figure in Canadian crime fiction. This acclaimed series is celebrated for its character-driven narratives and its authentic exploration of the investigative process.

Books in this Series (6)

Cover of The night the gods smiled

The night the gods smiled

Book #1 in series

Eric Wright

Ontario, Quebec

Mystery, Police Procedural

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…

Cover of Smoke detector

Smoke detector

Book #2 in series

Eric Wright

Ontario

Mystery, Police Procedural

In "Smoke Detector," Inspector Charlie Salter investigates the death of an antiques dealer who died in a fire later proven to be arson. The investigation leads him to uncover a web of deceit and suspicion among the dealer's associates, as well as his own personal issues, including dealing with his teenage son's behavior.

Cover of Death in the old country

Death in the old country

Book #3 in series

Eric Wright

Ontario

Mystery, Police Procedural

Death in the Old Country is a mystery novel by Eric Wright featuring Toronto Police Inspector Charlie Salter. While vacationing in England to repair their marriage, Salter and his wife, Annie, stay at the Boomewood Hotel, where they become entangled in a murder investigation following the suspicious death of the hotel's landlord, Terry Dillon.

Cover of The man who changed his name

The man who changed his name

Book #4 in series

Eric Wright

Ontario

Mystery, Police Procedural

In The Man Who Changed His Name, Inspector Charlie Salter investigates the murder of Nancy Cowell, a woman who met her killer after placing a personal advertisement for companionship. As Salter delves into Nancy's life of casual encounters and hidden animosities, he uncovers vital leads to solve the complex mystery. Set against a festive, Christmas-themed…

Cover of A Body Surrounded by Water

A Body Surrounded by Water

Book #5 in series

Eric Wright

Ontario, Prince Edward Island

Mystery, Police Procedural

While vacationing with his family on Prince Edward Island, Toronto Detective Inspector Charlie Salter finds himself assisting local police in a murder investigation. The case centers on the Great Seal of Prince Edward Island—a historical artifact stolen by American raiders during the Revolutionary War—which has mysteriously resurfaced in the 1980s.…

Cover of A question of murder

A question of murder

Book #6 in series

Eric Wright

Ontario

Mystery, Police Procedural

Inspector Charlie Salter investigates a string of anonymous threatening letters sent to Yorkville merchants, a case that turns deadly when a bomb explosion kills a shopkeeper's husband. As Salter delves deeper, he uncovers a complex web of local intrigue tied to a high-profile visit from a British princess.