Feet of Clay

This is Pratchett writing a proper whodunit, and he plays fair with the clues. The poisoning mystery in particular has a neat solution, and Vimes's methodical, stubborn investigation is a pleasure to follow. Cheery Littlebottom, a dwarf forensic expert finding the courage to express who she is, is a delightful new addition to the Watch. The humour is constant but never undercuts the tension, and the climactic scenes in the city's back streets are genuinely gripping.

The golems give the book its emotional weight. Pratchett uses them to explore what it means to be owned, to want freedom and to define yourself, and the story of one golem in particular is unexpectedly moving. The satire of class, prejudice and power is sharp but never heavy-handed. Detritus, Angua and Carrot all have strong moments, and the growing sense of the Watch as a team of misfits who respect one another is one of the book's pleasures.

The two main mysteries sometimes compete for attention, and some secondary characters get little room. Readers new to the Watch should start with Guards! Guards!. For those already fond of Vimes and his officers, it is one of the strongest books in the sequence. About 357 pages in the HarperTorch paperback.