Just Enough Rope — Barry B. Longyear

Trade Paperback, Joe Torio Mystery, 300 pages. Det. Sgt. Joe Torio is committed to a hospital for those with anger management issues to try to shake the frame being fitted on a giant of a convicted serial killer there for a murder the killer couldn't have done. While there under cover as a patient, Joe learns that at least two different persons at that hospital, for unrelated reasons, are also trying to kill him. In this world, however, murder is mostly considered just a treatment setback, and the only one who believes Joe is a cop thinks Joe is Inspector Javert hot after Victor Hugo's Jean Valjean.