Closely Akin to Murder (Claire Malloy Mysteries, No. 11) [Paperback]

Joan Hess (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1997

A chilling telephone call from a long-thought-dead cousin sends amateur sleuth Claire Malloy on the trail of her kin, a prestigious scientist being threatened with blackmail over a sordid period of her life. Reprint. PW. "

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Agatha, Macavity and American Mystery Award winner Hess sends her bookseller sleuth Claire Malloy (seen last in Busy Bodies) far from her small Arkansas town of Farberville in this tightly woven tale. Out of the blue, Claire receives a call from a cousin whom she understood to have died 30 years earlier. Veronica Landonwood, who at age 17 was jailed for murdering an American movie producer in Mexico, has since made a new life for herself as a medical researcher. But now, she says, someone is threatening to reveal her past if she doesn't hand over $1 million and she insists that Claire, whose detecting exploits she has secretly followed, is the only one who can save her. Claire takes her teenage daughter, Caron, to Acapulco to find out who among those involved in the murder and subsequent trial is still living and might be blackmailing her cousin. When their hotel keeper is murdered and Caron is abducted for ransom, Claire is thrown in with a Mexican family of dubious means. She sets out on a path, marked by seven bodies and nearly as many mistaken identities, that takes her to Arizona and Illinois before leading her and Caron safely back in Farberville. Hess knots deceit upon deceit into this suspenseful story, whose tone is lightened by Claire's quick wit and warm heart. Mystery Guild selection. (May) ~ FYI: Hess also writes the Maggody mystery series.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-A phone call from her supposedly dead cousin, Veronica, sends Claire Malloy to Mexico seeking new answers to a 30-year old murder. Veronica enlists Claire's sleuthing skills to find out the identity of a blackmailer who is trying to ruin her career as a research scientist and the truth about the murder. It takes a kidnapping, a wild car chase, and several deaths before Claire pieces together the puzzle and comes up with some bizarre answers. Hess weaves the complex and well-organized plot tightly together using Claire's snappy remarks and continuous dialogue as the basic foundation for communicating events. Numerous details and several red herrings add interest and build anticipation right up to the end. Featuring a unique brand of humor and a fast-paced plot with plenty of adventurous diversions, this entertaining series entry, with its surprise ending, will appeal to teen audiences.
Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451405617
• ISBN-13: 978-0451405616
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 3.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing change of scenery, November 16, 2002

By 

Jay Charles Johnson (La Crescenta, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Closely Akin to Murder (Claire Malloy Mysteries, No. 11) (Paperback)

This is probably my favorite of the Claire Malloy mysteries because here Joan Hess breaks away from the formula that most of the previous books have followed. Claire is away from the bookstore in Faberville (Acapulco no less) and the usual cast of characters/relationships there (although Caron is along and Peter checks in by phone).

The change of scenery and the unavailability to fall back completely on what has worked in the past seems to have inspired Hess to pen a better written mystery, while retaining all of the humorous touches that distinguish her earlier work. Unfortunatly, this book was a one-off experiment and later installments return Malloy to the predictable but enjoyable confines of Faberville. One only hopes that Hess will someday once again be daring and make another left turn that will breath new life into this fine series.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Claire and Caron go south of the border, down Mexico way. ., April 21, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Closely Akin to Murder (Claire Malloy Mysteries, No. 11) (Hardcover)

Presumed-dead cousin Veronica calls Claire from Chicago to ask her to unmask the blackmailer who won't let her forget that she murdered a Hollywood producer thirty years ago. Never mind that she did the time for doing the crime--she's built a new life for herself and doesn't want this stain on her reputation. Off go Claire and Caron to Acapulco--but unlike Elvis, they don't have "fun" there. Unless you call getting arrested by the Mexican police (Claire) and kidnapped by some greasy bum (Caron) fun. As Caron would say, Claire simply Asks for Trouble everywhere from Mexico to a convent (!) in Phoenix to her cousin's elegant digs in Chicago. You'll find Claire joining the jet set, Caron's anguish over Yet Another Major Crisis involving Rhonda MacGuire, Farberville High's Queen Bee, and more delightful flirtation between Claire and handsome cop Peter Rosen, in Joan Hess' latest. Have fun. .

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Joan Hess, July 22, 2010

By 

Peg M (Northern MI United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Closely Akin to Murder (Claire Malloy Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Joan Hess has a way with words. Her sense of humor comes through and makes her books a delightful brain candy. Both of her series are worth reading. Delicious way to spend an afternoon.