The Great Grave Robbery [Hardcover]

John Minahan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1989

The mystery begins with the theft of thirty-six vials of a substance essential to the process of reanimation. Now, twenty years later, "Little John" Rawlings sets out to catch the thief who has resurfaced after being pronounced dead. Rawlings must find the mysterious stranger and learn what happened nearly two decades ago.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

NYPD Detective "Little John" Rawlings returns for a fifth reprise ( The Great Diamond Robbery ) to solve an unusual robbery in this lively mystery. BCI Corp., a private investigations firm on the trail of an artificial virus stolen 20 years ago, asks Rawlings and Chief of Detectives, Walter Vadney, for help. The virus allows cryogenically suspended people to be safely thawed, and is worth $100 million in 1988 dollars. Impersonating a terminally ill patient who wants to be suspended after death, Rawlings visits a man who builds "cryocapsules," and learns that one of them has been bought by a doctor in Trinidad. Rawlings takes a buddy, Det. Louie Diaz, and two female detectives to the tropical island, ostensibly to partake of carnival. When one of the party is killed by an act of sabotage meant for Rawlings, the original robbery, whose penalties have expired, becomes an active murder case. Meanwhile, Rawlings learns that the likeliest robbery suspect was cryogenically suspended in 1967. Or was he? Readers will have fun with Minahan's entertaining narrative.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Minahan adds another title to his "great robberies" series ( The Great Harvard Robbery ) as New York City Detective "Little John" Rawlings undertakes an assignment involving the 22-year-old unsolved disappearance of a cryogenics expert. Rawlings begins his search for the elusive Dr. Mailer and the crucial viral samples he took by learning about cryonic suspension, so scientific details and technical explanations tend to suffocate any action until late in the plot. Rawlings's jaunty narration and upbeat ending nearly excuse the lack of movement but relegate this robbery to series fans.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 251 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1st edition (November 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039302721X
• ISBN-13: 978-0393027211
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,669,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Selected newspaper reviews:, April 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Great Grave Robbery (Hardcover)

WEST COAST REVIEW OF BOOKS: "Minahan handles it with great skill. "The Great Grave Robbery" is a combination of science, cynicism and mystery that blends into an absorbing piece of work."

FORT LAUDERDALE SUN-SENTINEL: "Minahan is at his best, the story is plotted out neatly, offering the right number of clues and the right amount of suspense to keep us engaged and entertained."