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Book ReviewsDesert Winter: A Claire Gray Mystery |
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Book: Desert Winter: A Claire Gray Mystery
Written by: Michael Craft |
Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur
Average Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5
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An average read
Rating:
3 / 5
Naturally, everyone's a suspect. And, naturally, Claire announces the solution when all the suspects are gathered in one spot. And, naturally, she's right, even though there is no real evidence. I'm soooo tired of that sort of thing.
Of course, I know authors have a hard time letting you get to know someone and then having that person be the murderer, but I am also tired of the culprit being some very fringe character who was barely around for the first 90% of the book.
Craft's book is best when he is talking about the characters' relationships, and, boy, are there a bunch. All May-December, too! (So why can't I find a toy boy?)
And I really enjoyed the fact that Claire is directing a production of Laura, a favorite of mine, though I'd far rather Craft describe the plot in a footnote than have the Claire say things about it to the actors and others who ought to know already. Here she is talking to one of the actors (who is also her lover): "And Scott's just wonderful as the effete Waldo Lydecker, a perfect foil to your hard-boiled but sensitive portrayal of Detective McPherson. Even Thad . . . [has] taken the minor role of Danny and polished it into one of the show's special highlights." She sounds like a critic, not a director!
Oh, and Mark Manning makes a guest appearance.
Even Better Than the First Claire Gray Mystery
Rating:
5 / 5
Having enjoyed the first Claire Gray mystery, of course I was looking forward to this second novel in the series. This installment fleshes out the characters introduced in the first novel, and I enjoyed it even more than the debut. The mystery is first class! The ending will suprise you!Mark Manning & Thad "guest star", and it is great to see them interact with the characters in this series. I hope Thad hangs around!
Continues to Stump
Rating:
5 / 5
Michael Craft does an amazing job of charachter and place description. I feel that I know these charachters. And they are all quite likeable. As is the 2nd Claire Gray mystery. I found it to be better than the first with its twists and turns that keep one guessing to the end. I highly suggest you read this one!
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