THE PORN STAR, THE MURDERER, AND THE DISAPPEARING WIFE… doozies at that. The whole family—criminals, abusers, and kindly aunts alike– comes alive in Janet Dawson’s first novel, prompting the New York Times to hail it as “a welcome addition to this tough genre.”
There’s clearly a lot more here than the simple matter of a wife disappearing with the grocery money. Smelling a rat or two right from the beginning of this complex and intriguing mystery, the red-haired private detective follows many a twisty trail as Dawson weaves an equally twisty tale, which, to the reader’s delight, just keeps winding back on itself, revealing brand new secrets as fast as ancient skeletons can fall out of closets.
Dawson’s Oakland is damp and properly sinister and Jeri’s as savvy as Sam Spade, with something of Spade’s seen-it-all outlook. What she doesn’t know, her chic lawyer pal, Cassie, can supply; and her cop ex-husband’s on hand to make trouble.
As winner of Private Eye Writers of America’s jointly sponsored contest with St. Martin’s Press for Best First Private Eye Novel, KINDRED CRIMES was a sensation even before it was published. It quickly went on to garner Shamus, Anthony, and Macavity nominations.
Fans of female sleuths like Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone will particularly enjoy it, as well as aficionados of Marcia Muller’s fellow Bay Area detective, Sharon McCone.
“Dawson keeps suspense and interest at high pitch.” –Publishers Weekly
“A satisfyingly complex and multilayered novel. . . A wonderfully told and compelling story from a writer who’s in complete control – as is her heroine – from start to finish.” — The Denver Post.
“An auspicious debut.”— New York Daily News
“Dawson writes believable dialogue, creates quickly realized and appealing characters and has a particularly nice atmospheric touch.” –San Francisco Examiner
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Great first effort. I was surprised by the twists and turns in plot and found the ending believable: not a “given” in all mysteries.
It was s fun read but dated regarding use of technology. I liked learning about Alameda since I’ve moved to the South Bay.
I had to turn this one off as it was too earthy a read for me.
Great story. Surprise and unpredictable ending.
The author allows us to tag along with her smart, independent investigator as we explore family, loyalty, revenge, and murder. Seamlessly written, well paced and richly complex while never feeling contrived, fans of Kinsey Milhone will find this book deeply satisfying.
This book is a page turner. It was difficult to put down. I highly recommend it .
Good read
A lot of fun. Kind of like being with Kinsey Milhone….
This book harks back to Raymond Chandler like PI investigators. A tenacious investigator follows a search for a missing woman and uncovers a 15-yr old murder with an unresolved motive. Good characters and plot as well as writing with none of the superwoman stuff like the black-belt, genius, models that populate so many of today’s mystery. The heroine is not haunted by some weird backstory of her own, nor does she bake cookies and stumble over dead bodies. Just a straight-forward PI procedural set in the Oakland area a few years a back. I recommend it for fans of Chandler or Sue Grafton.
loved it!