Mysteries


Ratings-
5 stars= couldn't put it down
4 stars= good enough to keep me reading
3 stars= an all-right read
2 stars= not great
1 star= a waste of time

Mysteries in Series:
  • Albert Samson by Michael Z. Lewin
  • The Cat Who... by Lilian Jackson Braun
  • Donald Lam, Bertha Cool by A.A. Fair (ESG)
  • Doug Selby by Erle Stanley Gardner
  • Duffy House by Crabbe Evers
  • Father Koesler by William X. Kienzle
  • Fletch by Gregory McDonald
  • Inspector Henry Tibbett by Patricia Moyes
  • Jimmie Haswell by Herbert Adams
  • Kat Colorado by Karen Kijewski
  • Kay Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell
  • Kinsey Millhone by Sue Grafton
  • Mary Higgins Clark books
  • Melody Lane by Lilian Garis
  • Mrs. Murphy Mysteries by Rita Mae Brown
  • Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
  • Nero Wolfe by Rex Stout
  • Perry Mason by Erle Stanley Gardner
  • Richard Jury by Martha Grimes
  • Ruby Crane by Jo Dereske
  • Sid Halley by Dick Francis


    Individual mysteries



    Disclaimer up front: I read 50-60 books a year, and consider maybe 10 of them really great. However, I'm such a book freak that I seldom find books that I consider below average. In fact, unless I get bored with a book, it will probably get 4 stars.

    Lots of the books I read are out of print. Let me know if a review helps or interests you! jhy@t-one.net



    These book pages are under revision. Please be patient

    views since 1997

    Reading Introduction

    you can now search this entire website from the Sharkbytes home page

    •  :

    Mysteries- arranged alphabetically by series- if not part of a series, then by title following the series section

    I have read hundreds of mysteries... they are my escape. I like classic who-dun-its better than horror and gore. Click on book titles to see the review

    Rating System
    Since series with created characters have an ambiance peculiar to themselves here's how I choose to rate these. I give the series as a whole a rating. Within the settings and limits of the entire series I've rated the individual books. For example, a 5-star Bertha Cool book will never be as good as a 5-star Perry Mason, just because the series is less well written as a whole. So be sure to check the series rating first. A book rated with only 3 stars within a series rated with 3 stars is thus not high on my list! Anything below 3 stars was a waste of paper.
    The graphic means that this book is one of the "Best of the Best." It may be a book that changed my life, or my thinking, or just one that has stuck with me as an outstanding example of a good read.
    The number in parenthesis is the series order (usually by publication date unless a prequel was issued)

    Albert Samson - by Michael Z. Lewin
    Albert Samson is a private investigator in Indianapolis. I've only read one of these books, and give the series for now.

    explanation of rating system

    • Ask the Right Questions 1988    (1)
    • Called By a Panther 1991    (7)
    • Child Proof 1988    (6)
    • The Enemies Within 1988    (2)
    • Eye Opener 1988    (8)
    • Missing Woman 1988    (4)
    • Out of Time 1988    (5)
    • The Silent Salesman 1988    (3)
    The Cat Who... mysteries - by Lilian Jackson Braun
    These books are very light reading, but they are delighful. If you love small-town life, a rich, distinguished newsman named James Qwilleran with a flair for attracting both the ladies and a good story, try these books (although his heart belongs to Polly Duncan). Oh yes, and he owns two cats, Koko and Yum Yum, Siamese who will win your heart and solve the mystery every time. Braun understands small-town life in the rural far north, as well as cats! She manages to come up with a new twist, and a little history lesson nearly every time. I give the series as a whole a rating of . Within the settings and limits of the entire series I've rated the individual books. I've read most of the series, but did so before I began reviewing mysteries. You'll have to wait till I read 'em again!.

    explanation of rating system
    Donald Lam, Bertha Cool mysteries - by A.A. Fair (a pen name of Erle Stanley Gardner)
    These books are coarser than the Perry Mason series, with less detail and more rough stuff. Most of the shenanigans would be totally illegal today, but Donald and Bertha's personalities give each book enough colorful brains and brawn to provide a delightful escape for an evening's read. Bertha is a large woman who runs the detective agency and likes to be in charge. Donald is a brainy little gumshoe who really gets everything done, but he has to make sure that Bertha is happy. The characters do develop and change a bit over the series, including a few years when Donald joins the Navy and goes to war but is involved in a case whenever he is home on leave. I suggest reading them in order. Since series with created characters have an ambiance peculiar to themselves here's how I choose to rate these. I give the series as a whole a rating of . Within the settings and limits of the entire series I've rated the individual books. So a 5-star Bertha Cool book will never be as good as a 5-star Perry Mason, just because the series is less well written as a whole.

    explanation of rating system
    Doug Selby, D.A. - by Erle Stanley Gardner
    Doug Selby is the newly elected D.A. of Madison County, California. He has just beaten the previous political machine of former D.A. Sam Roper. Police Chief Larkin, of Madison City, still represents the former regime. Selby is young, clean-cut, and full of genuine integrity. With the new Sheriff, Rex Brandon, and reporter for the Clarion, Sylvia Martin, Selby sets out to uphold the law. These books are Perry Mason in reverse, displaying everything good about district attornies' offices and police methods, with a crooked defense lawyer (A.B. Carr) as the counterpoint. Some analysts believe that Selby is somewhat autobiographical of Gardner's early years as a lawyer in Oxnard, California.

    The plots are ingenious, perhaps even better written than the Mason books. I give the series as a whole a rating of

    explanation of rating system
    Duffy House - by Crabbe Evers
    This series features a Chicago Sportswriter, Duffy House. He is pulled into the role of detective in his home city. Aided by his niece, Petrinella (Petey), they solve mysterious deaths which plague the big leagues.

    These are books for die-hard baseball fans. The author is actually two people, William Brashler and Reinder Van Til. Makes sense: there is so much baseball trivia that I don't think one person could ever know so much! I'm a Yankee fan, and yet I was a bit lost in the historical allusions. I give the series as a whole a rating of rather than 5 because the trivia gets in the way of the story for those of us who aren't glued to ESPN in the summer. Yet the plot was good and complex, and the solution not obvious too early, and not contrived. Dig in, if you are a baseball affecionado.

    explanation of rating system
    • Murder in Wrigley Field 1990?    (1)
    • Murderer's Row 1991    (2)
    • Bleeding Dodger Blue 1991    (3)
    Father Koesler Mysteries - by William X. Kienzle
    Father Robert Koesler, Detroit Diocese, is a humble priest who is able to help the police solve crimes, which always somehow involve the Catholic Church. He is quite an amateur mystery buff. Koesler is in his mid-forties when the series begins, tall, blond, and quietly likeable. Unlike the Perry Mason books, Koesler actually ages with the release of each book. The series as a whole gets from me. They are well-done, and you will be ahead of the game in figuring things out if you know church workings, politics, and a little Latin. Each book will give you some Catholic trivia to digest. There is often a red herring to separate from the kettle of fish. Remember, the individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.

    explanation of rating system
    Fletch Mysteries - by Gregory McDonald
    Irwin Maurice (I.M.) Fletcher is an irreverant reporter-turned-detective who gets himself into crazy scrapes and somehow adroitly also gets himself out of those scrapes. The series as a whole gets from me. This has more to do with the style than their clever plots. If you like the style, the books are well-written. Remember, the individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.

    explanation of rating system
    Inspector Henry Tibbett Mysteries - by Patricia Moyes (d. 2000)
    These books were written from 1959- 1980 in the style of traditional English murder mysteries. Inspector Tibbit is with the London police force. He's a rather unremarkable and self-effacing man who accomplishes great feats of logic. Of course the reader is maddeningly in the dark except that you can occasionally grasp at a clue or two and figure out parts of the solution if you work at it hard enough. for the series. The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.

    explanation of rating system
    • A Six-Letter Word for Death 1980 (16)
    • Angel Death ? (15)
    • Black Widower ? (12)
    • The Coconut Killings ? (13)
    • The Curious Affair of the Thrid Dog ? (11)
    • Dead Men Don't Ski 1959 (1)
    • Death and the Dutch Uncle ? (8)
    • Death on the Agenda ? (3)
    • Down Among the Dead Men ? (2)
    • Falling Star ? (5)
    • Johnny Underground ? (6)
    • Many Deadly Returns ? (9)
    • Murder a la Mode ? (4)
    • Murder by 3's ? a compilation of books 1,2, 5
    • Murder Fantastical ? (7)
    • Season of Snows and Sins ? (10)
    • Who is Simon Warwick? ? (14)
    Jimmie Haswell Mysteries - by Herbert Adams
    These books were written in the late 1920's in a lighthearted style of young love, noble motives and with good attention to detail. They are set in London. Jimmie is a young lawyer who likes to help the police solve interesting cases which come to his attention. The style is charming, and you can't help but like the hero and his young bride. Adams wrote over 50 books between 1899 and his death in 1958, in a variety of series and topics. The series as a whole gets . The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.

    explanation of rating system
    • The Crooked Lip 1926 (1)
    • The Queen's Gate Mystery 1927 (2)
    • The Empty Bed 1928 (3)
    • The Golden Ape 1930 (4)
    • All four books in this series are now reviewed. (note- I have found a list which includes The Secret of Bogey House, Rogues Fall Out, The Crime in the Dutch Garden, The Paulton Plot, and The Woman in Black in the Jimmie Haswell series. I am not sure this is correct, but will try to find out more definitively.)


    Jimmie Haswell book links
    list of all Herbert Adams books by date
    reviews of a few of the Roger Bennion series by Adams
    list of all Adams books by major character
    Kat Colorado - by Karen Kijewski
    Kat Colorado is a private investigator in Sacramento, California. I give the series as a whole . The books are light reading.

    explanation of rating system
    • Alley Kat Blues
    • Copy Kat
    • Honky Tonk Kat
    • Katapult
    • Kat's Cradle
    • Kat Scratch Fever
    • Katwalk
    • Stray Kat Waltz 1998    
    • Wild Kat
    Kay Scarpetta Mysteries - by Patricia Cornwell


    Kay Scarpetta serves as Chief Medical Examiner for Richmond, Virginia. The series is known for her meticulous autopsies and her knack for becoming personally involved in the cases. The series as a whole gets . The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.

    explanation of rating system
    • Black Notice
    • I will try to build this section to review the series
    Kinsey Millhone Mysteries - by Sue Grafton
    Kinsey Millhone is a private investigator in Santa Teresa, California. She is single, although twice divorced, cynical, and slightly sarcastic. But she's a realist. And she likes to keep things simple. I like her a lot. This series is the one based on the alphabet. The series as a whole gets . It is often possible to figure them out, in contrast to some books that withhold so much info that you have no hint at the outcome. They do tend to end abruptly and leave a number of loose ends. The stories build upon previous tales, so it pays to read them in order. The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.

    explanation of rating system
    Mary Higgins Clark mysteries
    Although the Clark books do not feature a recurring set of characters, they are so stylistically similar that I've listed them as a series. The main character is usually a woman, often one who is falling in love with someone. The flaws of the relationship are obvious to the reader, but not always to the characters. These are psychological suspense tales.

    Some might say that the books appeal primarily to women because they are often told from that perspective, but they don't have the feel of "girl books" to me. They are not about the emotional workings of the female psyche, but tap the fears of any human. Clark knows how to spin a tale that will keep you guessing and give you the chills. Some end well and some don't, so you don't have a pre-set formula to rely on. I give the series as a whole a rating of
    Here too, I've read many more than are reviewed here, but will begin to add them as I read or re-read.

    explanation of rating system
    Melody Lane Mysteries- by Lilian Garis The Melody Lane Mystery Stories are a series from the same time period as the first Nancy Drew books; 1933-1940. High-school age chums, led by Carol Duncan solve various mysteries in their neighborhood. The books are set in the Eastern U.S., never specifically pinned down, but near a state line in an area of old rambling estates. The writing style is somewhat choppy and "breathless," but appealing after you get used to it. The plots are more complex than the Drew series with more everyday life details, and they give an interesting look into the time period. The series as a whole gets almost The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.

    explanation of rating system

    Melody Lane book links
    the Book Sleuth
    Mary Crosson "Plain Jane" Series List
    Mrs. Murphy Mysteries by Rita Mae Brown (and Sneaky Pie Brown)

    Mrs. Murphy is a tiger cat (very similar to Sneaky Pie!) whose best friend is a corgi named Tee Tucker. Together they aid their human, Mary Minor Haristeen (Harry) to solve murders in the small town of Crozet, Viginia where Harry is Postmistress.

    The series gets reviews from me; if you just know that your dogs and cats understand more than they usually get credit for, you will love these books. This is another series set in small-town America. The author understands rural life and interactions, and the characters as they grow through the series are almost as much fun as the mysteries. The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.

    explanation of rating system

    Mrs. Murphy book links
    Rita Mae Brown official web site
    The first Rita Mae Brown fan site
    Mrs. Pollifax- by Dorothy Gilman
    Mrs. Pollifax is a past-middle-age lady who finds herself caught up in espionage, and discovers that she is quite good at it. The stories are entertaining, although technically sloppy and the names just don't work, in my mind. It all tries to sound British, while supposedly being American. The series as a whole gets . The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.

    explanation of rating system
    • The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax 1970 (2)
    • The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax 1971 (3)
    • Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station 1983 (6)
    • Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle 1988 (8)
    • Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha 1985 (7)
    • Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist 1997 (13)
    • Mrs. Pollifax and the Lion Killer 1996 (12)
    • Mrs. Pollifax Pursued 1995 (11)
    • Mrs. Pollifax on Safari 1977 (5)
    • Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief 1993 (10)
    • Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled 2000 (14)
    • Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish 1990 (9)
    • A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax 1973 (4)
    • The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax 1966 (1)
    • I will try to build this section to review the series


    Mrs. Pollifax book links
    Dorothy Gilman
    Nero Wolfe- by Rex Stout
    Nero Wolfe is the brainy fat man from New York who sits behind his desk, never goes out, employs an outstanding chef, tends magnificent orchids on his fourth floor and sends Archie Goodwin out to do his leg work. To Wolfe the important things in life are his orchids, his stomach, his afternoon beers and his schedule. Unfortunately he occasionally is forced to use his genius to solve crimes so that he can support his wonderful schedule. Archie's no fool, but his talent is "street-smarts," which brings verbatim information to feed Wolfe's gray cells. Wolfe is a stolid hero worthy of admiration, Archie provides the brash and flippant action, and the interaction of the two, who "by some miracle tolerate each other," is a large part of the appeal of the series.

    Stout was an amazingly consistent writer over the 50 years these books appeared (1934- 1985). There is hardly a Wolfe mystery that is not well done. The cases are narrated by Archie. The Wolfe formula usually involves getting all the suspects into the office together where they are questioned until some miscellaneous fact triggers Nero's brain to fire with a solution. In between these interviews, Archie is sent on errands from the mundane to the fabulous.

    The characters develop throughout the series, so reading these chronologically can be meaningful. The numbers in parenthesis indicate the order in which the books were written. Overall, these are some of my favorite mysteries, and the series as a whole gets . The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.

    explanation of rating system
    Orchids mentioned in Nero Wolfe Stories
    Orchid name Book or Story
    Brassocattleya Calypso Murder by the Book
    Brassocattleya fourniearae Murder by the Book
    Brassocattleya Nestor Murder by the Book
    Brassocattleya thortoni The Silent Speaker
    Brassocattleya Truffalianas League of Frightened Men
    Calanthe veitchi sandhustiana Too Many Clients
    Cattleya Dionysius Murder by the Book
    Cattleya Katadin Murder by the Book
    Cattleya mossiae reineckiana Before Midnight
    Cattleya peetersi Murder by the Book
    Cattleya tianae The Rubber Band
    Cypridium lawrencaenum hyeanum The Mother Hunt
    Dendrobium bensoniae The Second Confession
    Dendrobium chrystoxum The Final Deduction
    Dendrobium cybele Murder by the Book
    Laelia purpurata The Final Deduction
    Laeliocattleya barbarossa Murder by the Book
    Laeliocattleya Carmencita Murder by the Book
    Laeliocattleya luminosa aurea The Red Box
    Laeliocattleya Lustre The Rubber Band
    Laeliocattleya St. Gothard Murder by the Book
    Lycaste delicatissima Too Many Clients
    Miltonia roezli Frame-Up for Murder
    Miltonia roezli v. alba The Golden Spiders, and The Final Deduction
    Miltonia vexillaria The Final Deduction
    Oncidium forbesi Murder by the Book
    Oncidium marshallianum The Final Deduction
    Oncidium varicossum Murder by the Book
    Odontoglossum harryanum The Second Confession
    Odontoglossum pyramus Death of a Demon
    Paphiopedilum lawrenceanum hyeanum The Red Bull
    Phalaenopsis Aphrodite The Golden Spiders, A Right to Die
    Vanda caerulea The Golden Spiders
    Vanda petersoama In the Best Families
    Vanda suavis A Right to Die


    Nero Wolfe book links
    The Wolfe Pack
    Rex Stout
    Perry Mason- by Erle Stanley Gardner
    Perry Mason is, of course, the lawyer who can never be defeated. Is there anyone alive who does not picture Raymond Burr when they read a Mason case? With his cohorts, secretary Della Street and detective Paul Drake they outsmarted Lt. Tragg and Sgt. Holcomb of the LA police and District Attorney Hamilton Burger for about 40 years (1933- 1973). Although they never aged, their methods did, progressing from barely legal dance-stepping in the early books to more solid use of logic, open-minded searches for truth, and wits to win their cases in later books. (Burger and Tragg were introduced in 1935 and 1940 respectively.)

    The series wins top reviews from me, keeping in mind the time periods in which they were written. They are much less detailed than some modern mysteries, but the characters are satisfying and who doesn't love a winner! The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.

    Additionally, beginning with The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom most of the cases have a forward dedicated to and telling a bit about some real-life person who has significantly contributed to the field of forensics or detection.

    I've got all but one reviewed, and am trying to make it so each one links into the next chronologically. Be patient... not all the formatting is perfect yet. If you want to begin with the first one, scroll down to The Case of the Velvet Claws.

    explanation of rating system
    1. The Case of the Amorous Aunt Sep 1963 (71)
    2. The Case of the Angry Mourner Oct 1951 (39)
    3. The Case of the Baited Hook Mar 1940 (16)
    4. The Case of the Beautiful Beggar Jun 1965 (77)
    5. The Case of the Bigamous Spouse Aug 1961 (66)
    6. The Case of the Black-Eyed Blond Nov 1944 (25)
    7. The Case of the Blond Bonanza Jun 1962 (68)
    8. The Case of the Borrowed Brunette 1946 (28)
    9. The Case of the Buried Clock May 1943 (22)
    10. The Case of the Calendar Girl Oct 1958 (58)
    11. The Case of the Careless Cupid Mar 1968 (80)
    12. The Case of the Careless Kitten Sep 1942 (21)
    13. The Case of the Caretaker's Cat Sep 1935 (7)
    14. The Case of the Cautious Coquette May 1949 (36)
    15. The Case of the Counterfeit Eye Jan 1935 (6)
    16. The Case of the Crimson Kiss 1970 (82)
    17. The Case of the Crooked Candle May 1944 (24)
    18. The Case of the Crying Swallow 1947, but published posthumously (30)
    19. The Case of the Curious Bride Jan 1935 (5)
    20. The Case of the Dangerous Dowager Apr 1937 (11)
    21. The Case of the Daring Decoy Oct 1957 (55)
    22. The Case of the Daring Divorcee 1964 (73)
    23. The Case of the Deadly Toy Jan 1959 (59)
    24. The Case of the Demure Defendant May 1956 (51)
    25. The Case of the Drowning Duck May 1942 (20)
    26. The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito Sep 1943 (23)
    27. The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom Feb 1949 (35)
    28. The Case of the Duplicate Daughter Jun 1960 (64)
    29. The Case of the Empty Tin Can Oct 1941 (19)
    30. The Case of the Fabulous Fake Nov 1969 (81)
    31. The Case of the Fan Dancer's Horse Jan 1947 (27)
    32. The Case of the Fenced-In Woman 1972 (83)
    33. The Case of the Fiery Fingers 1951 (38)
    34. The Case of the Footloose Doll May 1958 (57)
    35. The Case of the Fugitive Nurse 1954 (46)
    36. The Case of the Gilded Lily Sep 1956 (52)
    37. The Case of the Glamorous Ghost 1955 (47)
    38. The Case of the Golddigger's Purse May 1945 (26)
    39. The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister Nov 1953 (43)
    40. The Case of the Grinning Gorilla 1952 (40)
    41. The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife Sep 1945 (27)
    42. The Case of the Haunted Husband Feb 1941 (18)
    43. The Case of the Hesitant Hostess 1953 (42)
    44. The Case of the Horrified Heirs Sep 1964 (75)
    45. The Case of the Howling Dog Jun 1934 (4)
    46. The Case of the Ice-Cold Hands Oct 1962 (69)
    47. The Case of the Irate Witness Mar 1972 (84)
    48. The Case of the Lame Canary Sep 1937 (10)
    49. The Case of the Lazy Lover Oct 1947 (31)
    50. The Case of the Lonely Heiress 1948 (33)
    51. The Case of the Long-Legged Models Jan 1958 (56)
    52. The Case of the Lucky Legs Feb 1934 (3)
    53. The Case of the Lucky Loser Jan 1957 (53)
    54. The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink Apr 1952 (41)
    55. The Case of the Mischievous Doll Feb 1963 (72)
    56. The Case of the Mythical Monkeys Jun 1959 (61)
    57. The Case of the Negligent Nymph 1949 (34)
    58. The Case of the Nervous Accomplice Sep 1955 (49)
    59. The Case of the One-Eyed Witness Nov 1950 (37)
    60. The Case of the Perjured Parrot Feb 1939 (15)
    61. The Case of the Phantom Fortune May 1964 (74)
    62. The Case of the Postponed Murder 1973 (85)
    63. The Case of the Queenly Contestant May 1967 (79)
    64. The Case of the Reluctant Model Jan 1962 (67)
    65. The Case of the Restless Redhead Oct 1954 (45)
    66. The Case of the Rolling Bones Jan 1939 (14)
    67. The Case of the Runaway Corpse 1954 (44)
    68. The Case of the Screaming Woman May 1957 (54)
    69. The Case of the Shapely Shadow 1960 (63)
    70. The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe Sep 1938 (13)
    71. The Case of the Silent Partner Nov 1940 (17)
    72. The Case of the Singing Skirt Sep 1959 (62)
    73. The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece Mar 1936 (8)
    74. The Case of the Spurious Spinster Mar 1961 (65)
    75. The Case of the Stepdaughter's Secret Jun 1963 (70)
    76. The Case of the Stuttering Bishop Sep 1936 (9)
    77. The Case of the Substitute Face Apr 1938 (12)
    78. The Case of the Sulky Girl 1933 (2)
    79. The Case of the Sunbather's Diary 1955 (48)
    80. The Case of the Terrified Typist Jan 1956 (50)
    81. The Case of the Troubled Trustee Feb 1965 (76)
    82. The Case of the Vagabond Virgin 1948 (32)
    83. The Case of the Velvet Claws 1933 (1)
    84. The Case of the Waylaid Wolf 1959 (60)
    85. The Case of the Worried Waitress Aug 1966 (78)

      86. I have just one more book to review in the series


    Perry Mason book links
    Black Hat Perry Mason Pages
    Erle Stanly Gardner Books
    Richard Jury - by Martha Grimes
    I have only read one book in this series. At this point I'm not ready to get as excited as the reviewers who call Grimes the modern Christie and Sayres. I give the series as a whole . The characters seem a little unrealistic and strained, but maybe if I read the whole series I'd get to know them better. Richard Jury is a police superintendent from Scotland Yard.

    explanation of rating system
    • The Anodyne Necklace
    • The Deer Leap
    • The Dirty Duck
    • The Five Bells and Bladebone
    • Help the Poor Struggler
    • The Horse You Came In On 1993
    • I Am the Only Running Footman
    • Jerusalem Inn
    • The Man with a Load of Mischief
    • The Old Contemptibles
    • The Old Fox Deceiv'd
    • The Old Silent
    • I will try to build this section to review the series
    Ruby Crane - by Jo Dereske
    Ruby Crane lives in a cabin in northern Michigan, content to enjoy the solitude and laid-back lifestyle of the northwoods. She lives with her teenage daughter who is still recovering from a serious head injury. Ruby is a documents examiner, a forensic specialty which allows her to live independently. I give the series as a whole . There is a solid understanding of life in the rural northwoods. The books are light reading.

    explanation of rating system
    • Cut and Dry
    • Savage Cut
    • Short Cut 1998
    • I will try to build this section to review the series
    Sid Halley - by Dick Francis
    Sid Halley is one of the few characters that Dick Francis used more than once. All of Francis' books center on horse racing in Great Britain. Sid is a damaged hero- he has lost a hand in a terrible accident that brought an end to his career as a jockey. However he takes up investigations. The first story, Odds Against, inspired a British television series called "The Racing Game." Francis then wrote a second book using the Sid Halley character, Whip Hand. Halley always seems to appear in Francis' writing after difficult times. The third title was written after his wife died, and Under Orders followed. I give the series as a whole . Francis understands horse racing, and it always shows. In addition, the Sid Halley character is wonderfully appealing.

    explanation of rating system
    • Odds Against 1978
    • Whip Hand 1979
    • Come to Grief 1995
    • Under Orders 2006
    • I will try to build this section to review the series
    Mysteries not in series

    explanation of rating system
    		Other writing by the Shark



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