Customer Reviews

Fugitive Colors (Sigrid Harald Mysteries)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Probably most readers know Margaret Maron better for her more recently published and more contemporary stories about (Judge) Deborah Knott. The Sigrid Harald series dates from the mid-80's to this, the last of the set (the eighth), Fugitive Colors, published in 1995 after a 5-year hiatus from #7. These books remind one of almost classic Ellery Queen type stories: long on police procedures, complexity of plot, and wrapping things up cleanly at the end; somewhat shorter on interesting characters, locales, or other diversions to enhance the entertainment value. Like watching an old TV show in black and white, our leading lady Sigrid is herself kind of a plain, by-the-books supervisor without much femininity or complexity. She did take on a much older lover somewhere along the line, an Arts Professor and painter (Oscar Nauman). He suddenly turns up dead (auto accident) at the start of this story, certainly an unexpected development; and we spend much of the first part of the book with Sigrid out of work grieving, art galleries posturing over showing and selling his works, etc. The mystery doesn't really get going until one of the art scene gallery principals is found quite dead. At that point, things pretty much returned to techniques of the earlier works.

I generally liked this somewhat old-fashioned series of mysteries. I grew somewhat fond of Sigrid despite her shyness and low profile, and there were signs she was gaining more worldliness with every passing book. There was just enough continuing story with some of her colleagues, and her painter-lover, that the characters were becoming more accustomed, more familiar friends. And make no mistake, Maron is a fine writer. I would rate most if not all of the other stories as "4's". But somehow, the disjointed start to this one, the fact that it almost seemed like the last of the series (even if I had not known it), just didn't provide the expected enjoyment. It was almost like the publisher insisted Maron dust Sigrid off and give us one more for the gipper, but that she did so reluctantly. Maybe her lack of joy translated into our own, hence the "3".

I guess I'll go see what Deborah Knott is up to!

This Sigrid Harald mystery follows two cases simultaneously--the murder or suicide of a spoiled drug user, estranged from his wife and baby daughter, and the murder of a second-generation art dealer in New York City. The perpetrators of these acts may come as a surprise. Sigrid Harald may not be as popular as Deborah Knott, but she and her police colleagues take on distinct personalities as the author begins to flesh out their characteristics.

I usually don't enjoy the Sigrid Harald series, she is a little too one dimensional. This novel, however makes her a real person and not a stick figure with all the really interesting people around her. The mystery is great and the book moves very quickly with a nice twist at the end. The characters-cops, artists, and gallery owners are all very quirky, making this a very easy book to read.

First Sentence: She lay motionless beneath the blanket and stared at the ceiling dry-eyed, fighting against doing this to herself again, yet unable to resist.

Lt. Sigrid Harald is still recovering from the sudden death of her lover, artist Oscar Nauman. His leaving her his complete estate forces her into the world art; its egos and jealousies. One of the dealers involved in a four gallery show of Nauman's work has been murdered in the late artist's apartment. Sigrid's team has its own challenges when what was thought to be a suicide may have actually been a murder.

It's interesting to read a non-Deborah Knott book. Her trademark powers of description of very much in evidence whether it be describing Sigrid's grief, or New York City.

There was a good balance of the two cases. Had the book only focused on the art world, some readers might have found the story tedious. Having the second case gave a balance to the story and also showed the diversity of the City.

Although written as recently as 1995, it was interesting to realize that personal computers were still relative new for home use. The book also did reflect the still sexist attitudes of the time in the constant focus by fellow officers on Sigrid's appearance.

It was an enjoyable read, but I do prefer her Deborah Knott books more.

THIS ONE IS NOT MY FAVORITE FROM MARGARET MARON. ITS A VERY MELANCHOLY STORY.