The Shadow of Venus: A Claire Reynier Mystery [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Judith Van Gieson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 9, 2004

When a young woman is found dead in the basement of the university library - with an illustration from a valuable book beside her - rare book expert Claire Reynier recognizes the victim as someone she had met, but whose name she never knew. To learn more, Claire must descend into the haunting world of the homeless in Albuquerque. But someone doesn't want Claire to shed too much light on the shadows of the past . . .

Available only in Wheeler Hardcover 6.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 274 pages
• Publisher: Wheeler Publishing; 1 edition (July 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587246953
• ISBN-13: 978-1587246951
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,335,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great amateur sleuth tale, February 3, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Shadow of Venus (Claire Reynier Mysteries) (Paperback)

Claire, a middle aged librarian works at the Center for Southwest Research at the University of New Mexico. At a poetry reading she arranged, a young woman she met once before offers her a seat and admires her looks. When a belligerent homeless woman bursts into the room, the campus police escort her out and Claire closes the door. The young lady who saved her a seat bolts from the room because she is claustrophobic.

Claire is disturbed when the young woman, who saved her a seat, a street person named Maia, is found dead in the basement, the victim of a heroin overdose. Claire feels connected to Maia and starts researching who she is, a journey that takes her to an Anasazi structure known as Special Rocks and to a commune in Taos. She learns that Maia was running from the man who abused her and Claire is determined that Maia's death will be avenged even though it means putting her own life on the line.

The heroine is a warm caring individual who hates to see a crime go unpunished. She starts a bit on her voyage of discovery because Maia could never willing stay in a room that locks from the outside. She also wonders why the victim was on heroin because she was supposedly clean. Judith Van Gieson weaves very ugly social problems into the main storyline yet still manages to entertain her audience with an absolutely enthralling and believable amateur sleuth novel.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stars shine thru the mystery of Shadows, May 31, 2006

By 

Suzannah B. Troy "artist/writer/youtube Mayor... (New York City, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shadow of Venus (Claire Reynier Mysteries) (Paperback)

This unusual mystery touched me because Judith Van Gieson addresses powerful issues that are close to my heart from the power of art, architecture, mythology, books, "library as sanctuary" (the library is where I discovered this book although I have gone on a "Van Gieson shopping spree"), to my daily encounters with people that are homeless and witnessing their struggles here in NYC. The back drop of the stunning visions of New Mexico, Colorado and starry nights that hold clues was a fascinating vacation from my New York landscape and Van Gieson isn't going to leave you down hearted. There is a lot of sadness in this story but I enjoyed the leading character being an intelligent empowered woman who delves deeply into what appears to be a superficial open and shut case that reveals reflections on the universe, human nature, deep dark secrets, guilt or the lack of. The librarian turned sleuth takes the reader on mysteries both internal and outward. As an artist I was deeply moved at how much the author thought out and expressed about artists. When Van Gieson briefly contrasts artists to debate whether there is an on going attachment to one's art, I had a chuckle and a passionate internal response; for me, always. The mystery is about the death of a homeless woman by drug overdose so this is just a hint at disturbing topics addressed. This book surprised me with it's depth yet it did not depress me. I was diverted and interested more than anything on television as I sat and read this book from cover to cover. In fact this would make a good tv movie but I don't imagine any male director for this film. How Van Gieson uses art as a key to the mystery and her finely tuned sensitivity to the passion of "the artist" really was touching. I even had to laugh because I am dealing with a moth infestation here in NYC as does her heroic librarian, Claire, although she takes it all in stride. Bravo for the art homage and the touching tribute to the beautiful humanity of lost souls, sometimes found. Despite the sadness of the story -- this is an entertaining mystery and a quick read.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good read!, August 26, 2010

By 

P. Walker - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Shadow of Venus (Claire Reynier Mysteries) (Paperback)

Was happy to find another Judith Van Gieson. Her Claire Reynier mysteries have always been well written and with good characters.