The Madonna Murders [Paperback]

Pamela Cranston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2003

The Madonna Murders is a mesmerizing novel about the priceless Icon of Kazan, first made famous by Tolstoy and shown at the 1964 New York Worlds Fair. It is a story about obsession, love and murder which takes the reader into the world of icons, the struggle between the holy and the demonic, and the Russian history of San Francisco and the USSR.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A good mystery combined with solid historical facts, well-drawn characters and a serious understanding of Christian theology and iconography. -- Richard James Mammana Jr., editor, The Anglican

A smart, elegant, spiritual whodunit. -- Lindsey Crittenden, Author of The Water Will Hold You

Best Clergyperson/Mystery Novelist: Holiest writer. This novel joins the ever-rising stack of East Bay puzzlers, a genre unto itself. -- East Bay Express, May 13, 2007

This is a damn good mystery! It's not often that I can find a mystery that I can't put down. -- San Francisco Mystery Book Store - Diane Kudisch, Owner

What a joy for us to read this book. Well done! We will personally pass the word on to EVERYONE! -- Brock and Bodie Thoene - Authors of The Zion Chronicles, First Light, and The A.D. Chronicles

From the Publisher

Synopsis: A MIRACULOUS ICON WORTH DYING FOR . . .

The Madonna Murders by Pamela Cranston is a mesmerizing tale of intrigue, romance, and the supernatural about the priceless Icon of Kazan, first made famous by Tolstoy and shown at the 1964 New York Worlds Fair. In the tradition of Steven Spielberg's new movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Charles William's book War in Heaven, it is a story about obsession, love and murder which takes the reader into the world of icons, the struggle between the holy and the demonic, and the Russian history of San Francisco.

When Andrea West, a theology professor in Berkeley, California, agrees to examine a rare and valuable Russian icon for signs of forgery, she plunges headlong into a tangled plot of blackmail, murder, and pure Evil!

The Icon of Kazan is priceless not only for the gold and precious jewels covering its surface, but also for its miraculous powers. Its veneration by Russian troops led to the defeat of Napoleon in 1812, and its healing powers made it sought after by the devout and the desperate. After the Russian Revolution, the icon was smuggled out of the USSR, bought by Frederick Mitchell-Hedges, also the owner of the real Crystal Skull, and finally resurfaced for sale in San Francisco.

A shocking ritual murder sends Andrea on the trail of the killers which leads to the shadowy Inner Circle-a group of Russian aristocrats and shady art dealers who will do anything to steal the icon, including resorting to the Black Arts! As Andrea unravels the truth about the Icon of Kazan, she makes surprising discoveries that hit much too close to home . . .

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: St. Huberts Press (January 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972416307
• ISBN-13: 978-0972416306
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,905,040 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Read, March 14, 2004

By 

J.D. Evans "gr8scribe" (Chico, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Madonna Murders (Paperback)

This is a fast-paced book that works on many levels, so I think it will be appealing to many different types of readers. My husband enjoyed it because it is a thrilling mystery. My teenage daughter liked the strong sense of place. She really felt like she was there, with the characters, in the Bay Area at a posh restaurant. She said that it was like reading a great travel memoir. I liked how well-researched this book is on so many topics. Whether it is Russian history, or art, or Christianity, the author dives into her subjects with great insight and detail. I hope this is the beginning of a series! I want to read about the trials and tribulations of these characters again and again.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing mystery!, May 28, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Madonna Murders (Paperback)

I am not a big mystery fan, but enjoyed this interesting and well written mystery by Pamela Cranston. Cranston's extensive historical research about the icon is evident and adds interest to the mystery aspect of the story. I also enjoyed the familiarity of the San Francisco and Bay Area locales since that is where I live. Cranston gives us clues throughout the book, but does a masterful job of keeping us in suspense until the very end.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to a new San Francisco Bay Area Sleuth!!, November 17, 2003

By 

Diane Kudisch (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Madonna Murders (Paperback)

"The Adirondacks has Julia Spencer-Fleming, Boston has Michelle Blake and now the San Francisco Bay Area has Pamela Cranston. We welcome Pamela to the world of theology and murder! Her character, Andrea West, a theology professor in Berkeley, is a welcome addition to the new wave of strong and independent female 'theological sleuths'. The Madonna Murders is a damn good mystery. It's not often these days that I can find a good mystery that I can't put down. I am so sure of this book that I have already reserved a place for it on our recommended rack and I can't wait until it comes out. I am looking for more exciting mysteries from Pamela Cranston."

Diane Kudisch, Owner
San Francisco Mystery Book Store