McCone & Friends [Paperback]

Marcia Muller (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1885941382 | ISBN-13: 978-1885941381 | Publication Date: February 2000 | Edition: 1

Creator of the modern female private eye story, Marcia Muller has been writing novels and short stories about Sharon McCone since 1977. In the process McCone has gained a host of associates and formed her own detective agency. Some seven years ago, Marcia Muller decided to show readers different views of her sleuth by relating cases through the eyes of McCone's colleagues.

McCone and Friends contains three stories told by McCone herself, as well as a novella and a short story narrated by the agency's investigator Rae Kelleher, a story from the viewpoint of its office manager Ted Smalley, an investigation conducted by McCone's nephew Mick Savage, and one by her long-term lover Hy Ripinsky. The settings range from small planes to a sweatshop which puts Asian women into virtual slavery, and the mysteries surround a 1950's jukebox in a rundown hotel, a sculpture welded together by a long-missing and now very-dead artist. In perhaps the most moving story of all, a teenage girl has vanished leaving as a clue only a collage on her wall.

The McCone Files shows why Marcia Muller is one of the greatest mystery writers of our generation.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Muller has been writing about Sharon McCone since 1977. This collection of stories offers different views of one of the first female sleuths. McCone tells three of the stories herself, while her friends and colleagues narrate the others. Rae Kelleher, her associate investigator, presents two tales dealing with current social problems: immigrants working in sweatshops and troubled teenagers. Her nephew, Mick Savage, and her office manager, Ted Smally, provide a look at high-tech investigating and the Bay Area gay community. Sharon's lover, Hy Ripinsky, helps her celebrate a significant birthday in "Recycle." In all, this anthology of previously published--but never collected--stories demonstrates Muller's stature in the genre and McCone's versatility as a character. A valuable addition to mystery collections and a treat for fans. Barbara Bibel

From Kirkus Reviews

This collection of eight stories is something of a family reunion for the All Souls Legal Cooperative. Though three of the entries feature Mullers signature sleuth, Sharon McCone (A Walk Through the Fire, 1999, etc.), the spotlight is on McCones associates. Her nephew Mick Savage, her lover Hy Ripinsky, All Souls office manager Ted Smalleyall get cases of their own, and All Souls associate Rae Kelleher solves the headliner, the 1993 hardcover reprint The Wall, by noticing how troubled teen Adrian Conway decorated her bedroom wall before she disappeared. -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 203 pages
• Publisher: Crippen & Landru Pub; 1 edition (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885941382
• ISBN-13: 978-1885941381
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,005,834 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

MARCIA MULLER has written many novels and short stories. Her novel "Wolf in the Shadows" won the Anthony Boucher Award. The recipient of the Private Eye Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award and the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award - their highest accolade - she lives in northern California with her husband, mystery writer Bill Pronzini.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars McCone & Friends Hits the Spot, December 21, 2000

By 

"tonnielee" (Hampton, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: McCone & Friends (Paperback)

I have a signed limited edition of this book and couldn't resist the urge to read it. If you are a fan of Marcia Muller, this is a must have book. The stories in this book are told by Sharon's friends, giving the reader an insight into her personality that you would not normally get. And lets face it, characters in a long running serious develop personalities of their own. This book gives you the opportunity to see Sharon from another perspective. The reader is given this rare opportunity in 8 stories that live up to Marcia Muller's excellent writing abilites. ENJOY!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVERS, October 18, 2000

By 

Bonita L. Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: McCone & Friends (Paperback)

Sharon McCone is probably the best loved detective in the mystery genre. Readers have seen her career evolve from All Soul's Cooperative to her becoming an independent investigator with her own staff and career. She has got it all together but she didn't get there on her own.

In this collection of short stories we see another side of Sharon through her office manager, lover, hacker nephew and co-investigator. They share with us their own thoughts about working with Sharon. They also move beyond talking about "the boss" and reveal something about themselves and how they go about solving a mystery with or without "the boss". Each one has their own distinctive voice that gives you a different perspective on how the team operates.

Of course Sharon has her own story to tell. Sometimes she doesn't appreciate the "help" from an amateur sleuth such as her big brother but who can choose your relatives especially when they are "annoying" you about a case. You will be delighted in listening to these stories and sharing in the escapades of Sharon's loving team. A limited collection of short stories such as this is a great addition to your mystery library.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating McCone Short Story Collection, August 23, 2001

By 

Kent Braithwaite (Palm Desert, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: McCone & Friends (Paperback)

As a mystery author with my debut novel in its initial release, I hold Marcia Muller in the highest esteem. Her creation, Sharon McCone, revolutionized modern mystery fiction. McCone broke the old stereotypes. She became the first human private eye. She is also the oldest sister of all those women private eyes practicing today. MCCONE AND FRIENDS is a short story collection with an unusual twist. Ms. Muller provides unique perspectives on McCone by allowing her supporting charaters to tell some of the stories in this collection. Rae Kelleher, Mick Savage, Ted Smalley, and Hy Ripinsky all give their views of McCone. McCone, herself, tells three stories. MCCONE AND FRIENDS is a great book that any reader of mystery fiction should have in her collection.