Dr. Mark Sloan, Los Angeles Community General's Chief of Internal Medicine, is also a talented amateur detective. He receives a package from Nick Stryker. It is full of files, audio tapes, and a video, which is the incriminating evidence Stryker has gathered. Stryker encloses a letter that states, "If you are reading this, I'm dead." The letter explains Stryker's reason for sending these to Sloan. Stryker believes Sloan is the most honest person he knows, and the best person to discover who killed Stryker. Sloan must decide what evidence will prove this and what evidence he must destroy to protect the innocent.

Based on the popular Dick Van Dyke TV series, The Dead Letter reads like a TV script. The dialogue is crisp and at times humorous. The action is swift and constant. The interaction between Sloan and his son, Steve, LAPD homicide detective, helps create an atmosphere of cooperation.

A quick read, guaranteed to give the reader a few pleasant moments.