Sue S. (Go4FanSue) reviewed The Strange Files of Fremont Jones (Fremont Jones, Bk 1) on + 195 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
From Publishers Weekly
Romantic suspense writer Day (The Stone House) turns to mystery with laudable results. The year is 1905. Fleeing the confines of her staid Boston upbringing and a potential marriage to a loathsome suitor, the modern-thinking Caroline Fremont Jones opens a typewriting business in San Francisco using the name Fremont. Her business brings her in contact with the normally mild young attorney Justin Cameron, who reacts with hostility when Fremont takes dictation from "ancient gentleman" Li Wong. A week later, Li Wong is dead, and Fremont's office is ransacked. Another client, Edgar Allan Partridge, brings three manuscript stories to Freemont for typing but never returns to pick them up. His brooding tales are full of evil and very like those of his namesake. Fremont's investigations into the mysteries of her dead and missing clients lead her to suspect her rooming-house neighbor, whom she believes is a spy. While the plot plays out credibly, Day shines brightest at horror writing: the excerpts from Partridge's stories are truly frightening, their gothic element adding powerful punch to Fremont's first case.
Romantic suspense writer Day (The Stone House) turns to mystery with laudable results. The year is 1905. Fleeing the confines of her staid Boston upbringing and a potential marriage to a loathsome suitor, the modern-thinking Caroline Fremont Jones opens a typewriting business in San Francisco using the name Fremont. Her business brings her in contact with the normally mild young attorney Justin Cameron, who reacts with hostility when Fremont takes dictation from "ancient gentleman" Li Wong. A week later, Li Wong is dead, and Fremont's office is ransacked. Another client, Edgar Allan Partridge, brings three manuscript stories to Freemont for typing but never returns to pick them up. His brooding tales are full of evil and very like those of his namesake. Fremont's investigations into the mysteries of her dead and missing clients lead her to suspect her rooming-house neighbor, whom she believes is a spy. While the plot plays out credibly, Day shines brightest at horror writing: the excerpts from Partridge's stories are truly frightening, their gothic element adding powerful punch to Fremont's first case.
Jan M. (batgirl) reviewed The Strange Files of Fremont Jones (Fremont Jones, Bk 1) on + 284 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
Loved the book and characters from page 1. I don't usually like stories told in 1st person but the "voice" of the main character is so charming, I enjoyed her viewpoints. Caroline Fremont Jones leaves Boston where her father and stepmother reside and takes up her own business in San Francisco as a "type-writer", dropping her feminine first name. Her clients present her with several mysteries along with the letters and manuscripts they bring her to type. Can't wait to read the next 3 (!) in the series.
Sandra (mycatscanread) -
Helpful Score: 7
I enjoyed this mystery. I liked the character and modern attitude of Fremont Jones, who is ahead of her time in the story. It starts out innocently enough with her type-writing business, but soon turns a dark corner into a suspenseful and interesting book. I would like to read the next ones in the series.
Doreen O. (dolver) -
Helpful Score: 4
I enjoyed this book. It had a true "olden days" feel about it. I loved the main character I felt I could become her when reading.
Cybele H. (Cybele) reviewed The Strange Files of Fremont Jones (Fremont Jones, Bk 1) on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I had high hopes for this mystery-it looked liked it was going to be good. The writing is good, but the evil abuse of one of the characters made it unpalatable for me and I didn't finish it.
