The End of Emerald Woods (Wild Onion Ltd. Mysteries) [Hardcover]

David J. Walker (Author)

Book Description

Series: Wild Onion Ltd. Mysteries | Publication Date: December 12, 2000

Chicago investigator and lawyer, wife and husband team Kirsten and Dugan are working together again to investigate what looks like a penny-ante problem: the theft of $2112.50, donations to the Committee to Rescue Emerald Woods, from the grassroots organization's treasurer. It seems like an open-and-shut case. But when it becomes clear that one group who might take offense by CREW's activities is a powerful Chicago land developer, and that the supposedly small-time theft of the money has been accompanied by some very serious threats, the case gets complicated-and deadly-in a hurry.

Edgar Award nominee David J. Walker's Wild Onion series-which includes A Ticket to Die For and A Beer at a Bawdy House-features two of the most appealing and creative series characters in mystery fiction today, and this cleverly drawn new installment is sure to be a success with longtime fans as well as those new to Walker's fine work.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Edgar nominee Walker is up to his usual good-humored form in his third Wild Onion mystery (after A Beer at a Bawdy House). John Michael Hurley, an unscrupulous commercial real estate developer, wants to turn pristine Emerald Woods, in Miracle City south of Chicago, into a megamall. Eudora Ragsdale, a former public housing resident in Chicago, joins with others in Miracle City to form CREW (Committee to Rescue Emerald Woods). As CREW's treasurer, Eudora finds herself in big trouble when someone steals cash raised to benefit CREW from her home. Alerted to the theft, husband-and-wife team Dugan and Kirsten of the Wild Onion private investigative firm head for Miracle City on what they think will be a routine case. The local cops, Chief Frawley and Officer Galboa, don't welcome them with open arms, but at least they don't escort Kirsten and Dugan out of town. Instead, they direct the duo to the house of Mama Dee, Eudora's best friend and probably the wisest woman in Kankakee County. There, Kirsten and Dugan are almost burned to death after discovering a dead body. Then the action really begins. Throw in the humorous banter between Kirsten and Dugan, and you have a wonderful mix of fun, local Midwest charm and a compelling plot. Walker is also the author of the Malachy Foley series. Agent, Jane Jordan Browne. (Dec. 12)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Eudora Ragsdale is the treasurer of a small environmental group dedicated to saving Emerald Woods, a small wooded area outside Kankakee, Illinois, from Chicago shopping-mall developer John Michael Hurley. When $2,000 is stolen from her home after a fund-raiser, Eudora hires Wild Onion Investigations. Sole proprietor Kirsten, a former Chicago cop, and her legal advisor and reluctant backup, husband Dugan, get more than they bargained for when Eudora's mother's home is torched and a body is found inside. There is no evidence, but both Kirsten and Dugan suspect developer Hurley. The third Wild Onion case continues to boast clever plots, great Chicago settings, and plenty of suspense, but, as before, the best parts of the series are the sparkling dialogue and the sexual tension between Kirsten and Dugan. They are a couple who are on equal footing but never let sexual politics impede their progress to the bedroom. There have been numerous attempts to create modern versions of Nick and Nora Charles, but Kirsten and Dugan are the most fun. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (December 12, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312252153
• ISBN-13: 978-0312252151
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,696,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The characters make the story, November 28, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The End of Emerald Woods (Wild Onion Ltd. Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Chicago's Wild Onion, Ltd. is an investigative and security firm consisting of a lawyer and a private detective. Duggan and Kirsten are also happily married to one another except when she feels the restraints of their matrimonial binds. Those feelings often lead her to do flaky things.

Kirsten accepts the case of twenty-four-year-old Eudora Ragsdale, mother of twins, accused of absconding with $2000 raised to save Emerald Woods from developers. The case seems almost trivial until someone tries to kill Kirsten and her spouse. Another individual follows Kirsten until he is found murdered. It appears as if an unknown assailant will kill to insure plans for Emerald Woods are carried out, leaving the Wild Onion team to uncover the identity of the murderer before they are added to the count.

Well-written environmental mysteries are somewhat rare, but THE END OF EMERALD WOODS is an excellent example of what the sub-genre offers. Edgar nominee David J. Walker creates a fine mystery in his latest Wild Onions installment. However, as usual it is the intriguing married couple conducting business that turns this novel into a winner.

Harriet Klausner