The Dandelion Murders [Paperback]

Rebecca Rothenberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1995

After finding a dead reporter in a drainage ditch, microbiologist Claire Sharples is unenthusiastic about solving the murder until two migrant workers are also killed, sending Claire into the heart of California's agricultural society. Reprint. K.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The romance that blossomed between plant pathologist Claire Sharples and botanist Sam Cooper in The Bulrush Murders begins to wilt, scattering its dreary debris throughout Rothenberg's second novel. Claire, hassled by the visit of Sam's preteen sons, escapes to the agricultural field station where she and Sam work, where she discovers an even better distraction: a dead journalist in an irrigation canal. It's the third corpse, following the bodies of two field laborers, found in a San Joachin Valley canal in three weeks. Claire's curiosity is fueled by a sense of responsibility to the journalist; when relations with Sam further deteriorate, she moves from his house to the run-down motel the writer shared with the families of field workers. While tracking the journalist's story, Claire learns how death lurks in fields dedicated to life and growth. Although some of the botanical detail slows the pace like tangled undergrowth and Sam has all the appeal of crabgrass, Claire struggles quite convincingly with her own personal development while solving the mystery behind the deaths.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Rothenberg tries to cover lots of bases in her second book. Besides presenting a convoluted murder plot, she works in women's rights, the plight of migrant workers, botany, biology, the problems of single parents, fruit-growing, ecological awareness, the environment, the negative effects of pesticides, the perils of step-parenthood, poverty, the role of women in the workplace, and infidelity. If she had successfully woven all of these minithemes into a single coherent story--a near-miraculous feat--readers and reviewers alike would be full of accolades. As it is, the story doesn't hang together very well, even though Rothenberg gets credit for her lofty ideals. Biologist Claire Sharples, who's in California on a temporary research assignment, finds herself caught in a confusing love triangle with a coworker. Then two migrant workers and a reporter are killed, and Claire's natural curiosity gets her involved in helping the local sheriff solve the puzzling murders. Better than the local cops at figuring out whodunit, Claire is less successful at resolving her love problems. Mildly interesting, but only for large collections with extra book bucks. Emily Melton --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Mysterious Pr (December 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446403784
• ISBN-13: 978-0446403788
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,929 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but tame, March 8, 2011

By 

C. A. Rockwell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dandelion Murders (Paperback)

(Contains mild spoilers)

There was much in this book that I found entertaining. As someone with a background in agriculture and botany, I found that aspect of the story fascinating. The author is also good at poking fun at the foibles of scientists and academicians (such as boring your dinner companions to death by going on and on about your narrow field of interest). The book also sympathetically raises the consciousness of readers regarding the hardships endured by migrant workers. Unfortunately, the book has a number of weaknesses that detract from it.

To begin with, the "dandelion" of the title really has nothing to do with the story. The author tries to relate it to the time and place of one of the deaths, but the explanation is so convoluted it just ends up confusing the reader, and it was in no way essential to the story. I suppose the author wanted to continue the botanical theme in her title, but "grapes" would have been much more logical, since the story revolves around the cultivation and harvest of that fruit.

Secondly, the main character, Claire Sharples, is so immature and self-centered it is hard to empathize with her, even if she does have an interesting career. The story opens with her being in a snit because her boyfriend's two young sons are visiting for the summer. Much is made of the fact that she is "not a mother" - but come on now. One doesn't have to be a mother to be a tolerant if not gracious hostess. Her boyfriend doesn't earn high marks for maturity either; he copes with Claire's discontent by jumping into the arms and bed of a former lover. I suppose the author worked in all this soap opera behavior as a mechanism to get Claire out of her boyfriend's house and into the motel where much of the action takes place, but surely the same result could have been achieved in another way that would have left the characters with their adulthood intact.Another sign of her immaturity comes when she yells at the police chief, "You lied to me!" simply because he did not share details of the investigation with her. But what self-respecting law enforcement officer would? Her naivety and childish demands are incredible.

Another weakness of the book is that there is really no excitement in it. Even when dangerous situations seem to be developing, such as when it looks like Claire is being chased by a fork lift, or when she falls down a slope in the dark, they quickly fizzle out, and are safely resolved before the reader's adrenalin can get going.

Here's where the SPOILERS are: The biggest disappointment is that the "murders" of the title aren't really murders - they are merely accidents. True, they take place during the commission of other crimes, but they are accidents nonetheless. I like my murder mysteries to be about real murders that are cleverly executed by killers who have motives that are reasonable to them. I find it a real letdown when that turns out not to be the case. It was hinted that one of the deaths might have been a murder, but the author left it dangling there, and missed her chance to develop the theme.

As a murder mystery, this book tastes like soda that's lost its fizz. Nevertheless, the book has enough positive features, as outlined in the first paragraph, to make it a worthwhile read, as long as you're not seeking excitement.