Park Lane South, Queens [Hardcover]

Mary Anne Kelly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1990

When two children are murdered in the peaceful neighborhood of Richmond Hill, Detective Johnny Benedetto enters the lives of the Breslinsky family as he tries to find the killer. Reprint. PW.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This delightful debut introduces a modern yet traditional New York City family--Stan and Mary Breslinsky and their three daughters: acclaimed photographer Claire, police officer Zinnie and fashion columnist Carmela, plus Zinnie's four-year-old son Michaelaen. All live in the peaceful family home in the Richmond Hill area of Queens, where Claire has recently returned after having worked for years in Europe and Asia. The neighborhood loses its tranquility, however, when a young boy is murdered and mutilated. With her photographer's eye for detail, Claire becomes involved in the investigation, meeting detective Johnny Benedetto, who falls for her. Claire's cameras (perhaps containing incriminating photos) are stolen; another child is killed. Friends and neighbors become suspects, including Zinnie's ex-husband, a restaurateur; a local woman thought to be a witch; and a U.N. diplomat living nearby who shows a sudden interest in all three sisters, particularly Claire. There are disturbing indications that Michaelaen knows something about the deaths--and then he disappears. Kelly escalates the suspense while demonstrating an unerring sense for the nuances of family and other relationships.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In this provocative and entertaining but only marginally mysterious first novel, the search for a child murderer plays second fiddle to the everyday lives of a rather bizarre family. Soon after Claire Breslinsky, world wanderer and photographer, joins her two divorced sisters--one a flamboyant fashion journalist, the other an efficient policewoman with four-year-old son--at their parents' home, an old man discovers the mutilated body of a child in nearby woods. This and a subsequent murder, however, remain peripheral to familial jostlings as Claire "finds" herself. Somewhat slapdash at times, but redeemed by the characters and the affecting ending.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 233 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (February 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312039077
• ISBN-13: 978-0312039073
• Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 0.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,241,258 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good mystery, great setting!, January 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Park Lane South, Queens (Paperback)

Discovering this book was a real find! As an avid mystery reader, I am discriminating about giving 5 stars--but I had no hesitation with this well-crafted novel. Solving the murders is, of course, the glue that holds this book together...but it is the interplay between the three sisters who have returned home to share memories, lovers, children and parents that makes this a reading experience that is compelling and worthwhile, and far more than just entertainment. The book is well written, too: good description, nice characterization--an all around enjoyable mystery novel, and one of the freshest and appealing stories I've read in a long time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Time Warp, January 23, 2007

By 

Marilyn F. Sachs (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Park Lane South, Queens (Hardcover)

I bought this book because of its title. We lived on 102nd street about 6 houses down from the park. The author captures the neighborhood facing the park. Life seemed to be shaped by the park and the woods. It was wonderful but it could be dangerous. Thank you for bringing me back to a place I loved so much, more than fifty years ago.

4.0 out of 5 stars Some families are more interesting than others., July 28, 2009

By 

Darrel Drumm "Darrel the librarian" (Bunch, OK United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Park Lane South, Queens (Paperback)

A disjointed murder mystery. The books is mostly in the mind of Claire, a "returned-home" photographer and the Mayor--the family dog. Mayor may be the most normal member of the family. An interesting book.