Cheryl R. (Spuddie) -
Helpful Score: 2
First Annie Szabo mystery, with the freelance journalist living in the SF Bay area being stunned by the death of her lifelong best friend Jerry. Annie, widowed at a young age with three daughters, and oft cursed by her Gypsy mother-in-law, now finds Madame Mina trying to patch up old grief and asking Annie to help investigate who killed Jerry, whom she still considers to be her son-in-law, though Mina's daughter Capri and Jerry have been divorced for many years. A rich, evocative mystery woven with tales of Gypsy lore as well as a set of odd, interesting, well-fleshed characters, this book was a treat to read. With her almost poetic writing style, Blevins tells the tale, all the while getting ready to twist the plot and pull the strings that will knit it tightly together. Wonderful!
Richard M. (algernon99) -
Wow! This is a new experience. The story is written with a lyrical, poetic quality part of the time, and as a regular mystery the rest of the time. It's quite fun to see the world through the eyes a person who has married into a clan of gypsies and learns to think and act like a gypsy.
Regular mystery readers will enjoy this--I did! Those who demand a the values of real literature in their mysteries will also be satisfied.
One quibble, though--I was ready to be finished with the book 50 or 100 pages sooner than the author was. I felt it went on a little too long.... But I still liked it and would heartily recommend it.
Regular mystery readers will enjoy this--I did! Those who demand a the values of real literature in their mysteries will also be satisfied.
One quibble, though--I was ready to be finished with the book 50 or 100 pages sooner than the author was. I felt it went on a little too long.... But I still liked it and would heartily recommend it.
Interesting novel about the Gypsy lifestyle. Very entertaining.
Really enjoyed this book...the gypsy culture was fascinating.
fun book about gypsies
