Good King Sauerkraut [Paperback]

Barbara Paul (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Paul's new novel may not receive the unstinted praise previously accorded her sophisticated, original mysteries. A want of symmetry in plot weakens this saga of King Sarcowicz--called "Sauerkraut," because he is very tall and clumsy, yet envied for his skill at designing robots. It is King's lack of coordination that causes the accidental death of two colleagues while they are conferring in a Manhattan hotel. Panicked, King leaves the scene and wanders the city until he's beaten by muggers and lands in hospital. (Paul's descriptions of New York are wonderful--except when she misplaces the entrance to Carnegie Hall.) The maladroit killer then returns to the hotel, where detectives investigating what they believe is murder focus suspicion on King, regardless of his alleged alibi. Erratic henceforth, the narrative finishes abruptly. The finale is less shocking than the author apparently intended--and is illogical to boot. Nevertheless, Paul deserves credit for attempting this off-beat saga of put-upon King Sauerkraut.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Paul's fiendish albeit comical characters are enhanced by crisp prose." -- Publishers Weekly

Barbara Paul has never been afraid to try new approaches to the mystery genre. -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Barbara Paul is the most ingenious plotter in the mystery world today. -- Prime Suspect

Paul is among the handful of writers who consistently turn out well-researched, thoroughly absorbing novels. -- Library Journal

There are few mystery writers who can match Paul for originality. Grab every Barbara Paul you can. -- Drood Review of Mystery

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Scrivenery Press; 2 edition
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893818012
• ISBN-13: 978-1893818019
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,525,549 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not "great" King Sauerkraut, October 22, 2009

By 

Marilyn Turner "plays games, all sorts" (FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Good King Sauerkraut (Paperback)

I've never thought Barbara Paul is as well-known as she should be. I enjoy her characterizations, her clear and readable style, and her wit. I have some problems with this book, though. King Sarcowicz, stuck with the demeaning nickname Sauerkraut for reasons that don't make much sense, is a klutzy, insensitive, work-obsessed genius. At some level, he's aware of his own failings--he doesn't mean to be a jerk, he just has little empathy for others. I really wanted to pull for the guy. Through sheer clumsiness, he accidently kills two team members and then compounds this by digging himself deeper and deeper into trouble.

So far so good, but as the story wends to its end, I became less and less satisfied. Did King learn anything from his ordeal? Nothing positive. Was justice served by the ending? Didn't feel that way to me. If Paul wasn't going to give us a traditional good guys win/bad guys are punished story, then something more was needed--humor, perhaps, to poke fun at the stereotypes she flouted.

My Eyelids are Growing Heavy is a wonderful example of Paul at her best. This story I rank as OK.

7 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Discover the Amazing Barbara!, May 2, 2001

By 

S. Berner (Cocoa, Fl USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Good King Sauerkraut (Paperback)

Barbara Paul is one of the great "unknowns" in the mystery field. Although her amazing, witty, funny, suspenseful, brilliantly crafted (enough adjectives?) novels have been keeping fans enthralled for years, she has never been accorded the due that is her... er... uh... due! GKS is as good a place as any to start. It really doesn't matter, in a way, because wherever you start, you're going to want, nay NEED, to read 'em all! As for titles, good as this is, wait 'til you meet "Liars, and Tyrants, and People Who Turn Blue"!