Customer Reviews

Old Poison: A Diana Hunter Mystery

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4 star:		(1)
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Having now read all three books in the "Diana Hunter" series in the order of publication, I find Francis is writing backwards. Each book covers an earlier period of Hunter's life. No matter, I'm now waiting for the next one. I can't wait to read about her husband and how that marriage developed and ended! Each book is full of plot twists and unexpected developments.

This Diana Hunter mystery reminds me of some other novels I have enjoyed with equal enthusiam. The characters are well written and believable. I enjoyed being taken to another place with rich scenery and plot elements. Diana is a private investigator who is brought in to help in the quest for a new fuel which will revolutionize the world. A mystery envelops her when someone she is asked to question turns up murdered and Diana herself is questioned. She now has to prove her innocence and is being pursued by the killers. The action takes us to a tropical location in a forest and she is again put into danger. I loved how she is able to survive by wit and courage and using 007 style tricks as opposed to shoot and ask questions later action. Read this and tell your friends as Joan Francis is a great author with mass appeal like Sue Grafton.

Joan Francis' book Old Poison has a heckuva lot going for it. An intriguing set of characters, a great plot, timely material, clever set dressing and lots more. I liked her female PI protagonist a lot and it's because Francis knows her stuff - she was a PI herself. Learn what it takes to be a sucessful modern PI and what kind of sleazebags you can run up against. Highly recommended.

Diana Hunter, a private investigator, is asked to check out the possibility of the existence of a new environmentally friendly fuel that is contained in a document called the Martian Diary. Believing that this is simply a crank case Diana agrees to meet with the author of the document Evelyn Lilac. She soon discovers herself in the middle of an unprovoked attack and an unexplained death.
The story builds in tension as Diana travels from deserts of New Mexico to the jungles of Costa Rica in order to find the reasons for Lilacs death. As the body count rises Diana finds herself dealing with environmentalists, crackpots, and unscrupulous corporate agents.

Joan Francis has written a good debut novel, which will keep you turning the pages. Her own experience as reporter, a private investigator, her knowledge of mining camps from New Mexico to South America along with her keen eye for detail adds depth to the story. The character of Diana Hunter is well rounded out and the story is extremely well edited. I look forward to future adventures of Diana Hunter by the very talented author.

Lillian Porter

This is a fun book that is a quick read. The character is witty and adventurous. It is fast paced and has many surprises. There is a feel of realism in the fiction that leaves you wondering about real life current events. Highly recommended.