4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding mystery explores secrets and deceit in a powerful family, November 2, 2009
This review is from: Murder in the Garden District: A Chanse MacLeod Mystery (Chanse MacLeod Mysteries) (Paperback)
Upon returning from a trip to visit his ailing mother in Texas, New Orleans gay private investigator Chanse MacLeod is hired by the matriarch of one of that city's socially and politically powerful families to investigate the murder of her son, who was preparing to run for the Senate. Chanse's assignment was to look for the murderer outside of the family, although there was compelling evidence to suggest that the killer was actually the man's wife, who considered him an abusive cheater, or even the matriarch herself, who was proved to have handled and shot the gun used in the slaying. Along the way, Chanse uncovers mysterious fatal "accidents" that seem to haunt the family, a payoff of a local businessman that appears to be blackmail, finds that a man who he helped convict may be trying to kill him, and suspects the disappearance of the man's college-student daughter may hold the key to the mystery. Meanwhile, Chanse, his friend Paige and his assistant, Abby, all survivors of the physical and emotional devastation of Hurricane Katrina years before, keep a wary eye on an approaching storm that threatens to hit New Orleans.
Greg Herren is a master storyteller, and the reigning king of gay mystery novels. In this fifth of the "Murder In The..." series featuring Chanse MacLeod, he continues to show his talent for engaging, emotionally-realistic characters and situations, which make his work a significant cut above the average. Absolutely five Cajun-spiced stars out of five!
- Bob Lind, Echo Magazine
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Should be a must read on any mystery buff's summer reading list, July 8, 2010
This review is from: Murder in the Garden District: A Chanse MacLeod Mystery (Chanse MacLeod Mysteries) (Paperback)
Greg Herren is an award winning mystery writer. He's published four Chanse MacLeod mysteries, and a total of ten novels. His MURDER IN THE RUE CHARTRES garnered the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Men's mystery. He co-edited LOVE, BOURBON: Reflections of New Orleans, among other anthologies.
Chanse MacLeod is a New Orleans private eye. He lives in a gorgeous apartment, thanks to his friendship and working relationship with one Barbara Castlemaine. Barbara calls him in and pressures him to take a murder case for Cordelia Spencer Sheehan, one of Louisiana's most beloved, richest, and vindictive women. The Sheehans lived in a world of their own, unfazed by the rules most people live by. So when Cordelia's son is found murdered, and she took a shot from the murder weapon after finding his body, Chanse knows he is in for it. Particularly when Cordelia orders a "hands off" order to Chanse's investigation, which presupposes the "round up the usual suspects" approach:
"'Let me make myself clear, Mr. MacLeod,' she said contemptuously. 'As long as there is breath in my body, no one named Sheehan will go to prison for anything. No matter what I might think of her and what she has done, my daughter-in-law is a member of my family, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that she does not spend a single night behind bars for her crime-no matter how much I would enjoy seeing that happen. And I am not about to be painted as a murderer in a court of law to save her. My son had plenty of enemies. I want you to look outside my family. Is that clear?'"
Naturally, being an ex-cop, that is exactly where Chanse begins. Thus launches a tale of New Orleans politics; subterfuge; danger; and all that mystifies the rest of the country about New Orleans itself. Throw in a good dose of family dysfunction and Chanse's charm as a private investigator, and you have one heckuva good read.
MURDER IN THE GARDEN DISTRICT wins the reader over completely to the world of Chanse MacLeod. It ranks up with all the great movies and books about New Orleans, and should be a must read on any mystery buff's summer reading list.
Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic, December 22, 2009
This review is from: Murder in the Garden District: A Chanse MacLeod Mystery (Chanse MacLeod Mysteries) (Paperback)
Another great mystery by Greg Herren--I just love reading Mr. Herren's mysterys. Please keep them coming.
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