Dead Heat — Linda Barnes

SOMETIMES RUNNERS COLLAPSE FROM MORE THAN FATIGUE....

Michael Spraggue has put sleuthing behind him in favor of the relative sanity of the actor's life. Currently appearing six nights a week in Shakespeare and Brecht at the
Harvard Rep, Spraggue is none too eager to help an old friend prevent a murder.

But Pete Collatos gains Spraggue's grudging cooperation with a bizarre story of a senator receiving death threats. Pete is Senator Donagher's bodyguard, and he's understandably worried when Donagher decides he's running for more than re-election. How can Pete protect a man competing in the enormous Boston Marathon?

The case turns nastier by degrees, and Spraggue's lucky to have the invaluable (if somewhat unorthodox) help of his inconceivably wealthy Aunt Mary, of her unlucky-at-cards butler... and of Pete's beautiful, mysterious younger sister.