Fare Play [Hardcover]

Barbara Paul (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 3, 1995

Struggling for answers when two murders occur--the first on a crowded city bus, and the second a busy subway--inexplicably without witnesses, police lieutenant Marian Larch uncovers a deadly murder-for-hire ring. 10,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Veteran Paul (The Apostrophe Thief) pens another nifty chapter in the casebook of policewoman Marian Larch, recently promoted to lieutenant in the NYPD's Midtown South Precinct. Standing out from the usual round of crimes is the murder of elderly Oliver Knowles on a crowded bus, the killer escaping unseen, even by the detective agency operative who was trailing him. Larch is surprised to learn that the agency is owned by Curt Holland, her on-again, off-again lover. Knowles was the wealthy, retired head of O.K. Toys, now run by suave David Unger. In addition to Unger, Knowles's son and the family lawyer stand to profit most by the old man's death. Larch senses chicanery behind the urbane, respectable facade. A college student is similarly murdered in a packed subway train, but this time a description of the killer emerges. While working both cases, the new lieutenant grapples with the problems of her actress friend Kelly Ingram, suffers insults from a couple of macho fellow cops and is ambivalent about resuming her affair with Holland. In the nicely twisting end, Holland's help combines with solid police work to solve the case and shut down a bizarre, long-running destructive operation. Zingy from page one to the finish.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The Marian Larch police detective series continues as the newly promoted Larch investigates a mysterious, unwitnessed murder on a crowded city bus. A similar public murder on a subway ultimately leads her to a murder-for-hire ring and the motive for the hits.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Scribner; 1ST edition (April 3, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684197154
• ISBN-13: 978-0684197159
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,470,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fare Play offers a more than fair return for your money, September 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fare Play (Marian Larch Series) (Paperback)

Barbara Paul was a professor at University of Pittsburg and her love of writing shows in this well plotted, absorbing mystery. Newly promoted Lieutenant Marian Larch is confronted with a conundrum- why would anyone kill a harmless old man? Was it a mistake or is there a hiden motive? She confronts male prejudice on the job, pressure as the affluent and not so innocent threaten lawsuits as Marian presses closer to the truth. Paul skillfully mixes humor with suspense- Marian is invited to the "best man" at her former partner's wedding. To further complicate her life Marian's former lover re-enters her life. All of the characters are gems- from the priest who mixes up the wedding, to her partner's future battle ax mother-in-law Paul develops complex and believable characters. If you like this one also read the highly suspenseful, gritty You Have the Right to Remain Silent- Marian has to investigate the murder of four executives!, and read all of the Larch series. Barbara Paul is the best mystery writer and most underrated mystery novelist in America. Rereading it was as great a pleasure the second and third times as the first because I could appreciate skillful settings, character, plot development and the graceful writing! An underrated gem!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptional mystery writer, April 30, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Fare Play (Marian Larch Series) (Paperback)

The Marian Larch series deserves to be reprinted in its entirety someday soon. They are excellent mysteries and the lead character has realistic professional and personal relationships that are intricately interwoven together (just like real life...). For those of us who are Blakes 7 fans, Larch's mysterious lover is not only based upon Avon (played by Paul Darrow in the sci-fi series) but the entire book, dedicated to the B7 fandom, has a number of B7 "in jokes". Delightful reading!