By Evil Means (Phoebe Siegel Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Sandra West Prowell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Phoebe Siegel Mystery | Publication Date: March 1, 1995

P.I. Phoebe Siegel, of Billings, Montana, balks at investigating the strange behavior of a troubled girl in drug rehab, until she finds out that the girl is linked with the death of Siegel's brother. Reprint. PW. AB.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This mystery from newcomer Prowell introduces PI Phoebe Siegel in a case set in Montana.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

As Phoebe Siegel (in her debut mystery) investigates a drug treatment center near Billings, Montana, she is pushed to the limit both mentally and physically. Standard elements soon pile up: the foreboding medical facility, the malevolent director with his icy female assistant and terrified patients, evidence of a potential conspiracy and cover-up, and connections to the recent questionable death of Phoebe's policeman brother. As she nears the truth, Phoebe experiences the usual break-ins, threats, and sudden realizations. A routine effort, perhaps of interest to larger collections.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Crimeline (March 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 055356966X
• ISBN-13: 978-0553569667
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,360,319 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars P.I in Montana mystery--terrific!, August 26, 2001

By 

Long Island, East, member (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: By Evil Means (Phoebe Siegel Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you're looking for detailed murder scenes, go for P.D James or Anne Perry. The nitty gritty aspects lasts from book to book. Looking for fun in your mysteries? Check out set characters in series by J.D Robb/Nora Roberts or Janet Evanovich. BUT, if you want a mystery that moves with unique memorable characters to each and every book, Sandra West Prowell delivers modern tales about a fun-but-firm Private Investigator, Phoebie Siegal. She works murder mystery on behalf of paying clients not the police. Occasionally, she greets local customs and lore arriving from Native American heritage. Unlike other series books, Phoebie's adventures leave you guessing to the end. Each tale smoothly reveals aspects of this intriguing main character. And, almost anyone could be the suspect, almost anyone could die, and almost anyone could hire Phoebie Siegal to find out why--or are they trying to set her up? In this story, Phoebe meets an emotional runaway claiming the unusual practices of a high-security drug rehab are the nature of her latest anxiety jaunt. After checking into her deceased brother's last case file, Phoebe discovers that the kid may not have been just expressing her illness. Great read, unpredictable but perfect ending!

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Attention Montana and Mystery Lovers!, February 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: By Evil Means (Phoebe Siegel Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

I am very happy that I have disovered Sandra West Prowell and Phoebe Siegel! They have brought me many enojoyable hours with this book. Not only is this a good mystery, it is an easy read full of humor.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An average detective novel, July 28, 2002

By 

Fred Camfield (Vicksburg, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: By Evil Means (Phoebe Siegel Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

This novel seems to start out a little incoherent, and the first part of the story did not hold my attention. The action picked up at the mid-point. There are some digressions, and some material seemed borrowed, e.g., the cat seems to come from Lawrence Sanders stories about Timothy Cone. The main character, Phoebe Siegel, comes across a bit ditsy at times, and lets emotions rule her brain. Having initially not wanted a case (she has a phobia about March), she hangs onto it tenaciously to the point of not cooperating with federal agents, probably contributing to several deaths. Phoebe is not someone you want involved in your life.

The novel offers a new location for detective fiction with a setting in Billings, Montana. The plot is a little transparent, with the bad guys and the nature of their crimes becoming apparent early in the story. There are some interesting sidelights like Phoebe's cat terrorizing the neighbor's dog, but it is mostly about greedy corrupt people and misplaced trust.