The Stolen Blue (Claire Reynier Mysteries) [Paperback]

Judith Van Gieson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Claire Reynier Mysteries | Publication Date: April 10, 2000

For the fifty-year-old, recently divorced Claire Reynier, it's time to start over. But her new direction in life--at a New Mexico university--becomes a detour to murder when an old friend and mentor is found dead.

Praise for The Stolen Blue:
"Van Gieson's back--and better than ever. Don't Miss The Stolen Blue."--Tony Hillerman

"Van Gieson was always a terrific writer, but now she's outdone herself with The Stolen Blue. A captivating and absorbing, highly readable, stay-with-it-till-you're-done mystery."--Fred Harris, author of Coyote Revenge

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The author, known for her Neil Hamel mysteries, begins a new series featuring New Mexico rare books librarian Claire Reynier. Claire retrieves a batch of particularly valuable Southwest titles from a remote ranch (whose owner dies that night), only to have someone steal them from her truck. Masterly work, fascinating heroine.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"An intricate puzzle that kept me guessing until the last piece snapped into place. The Stolen Blue is a terrific mystery with a savvy and thoroughly likeable sleuth." -- Margaret Coel, author of The Lost Bird

Judith Van Gieson was always a terrific writer, but now shes outdone herself with The Stolen Blue, starting a grand new series featuring Claire Reynier. The Stolen Blue is a captivating and absorbing, highly readable, stay-with-it-till-youre-done mystery. -- Fred Harris

Neil Hamel is gone in this one, but Van Giesons back-and better than ever. Dont miss The Stolen Blue. -- Tony Hillerman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Signet (April 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451200012
• ISBN-13: 978-0451200013
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,210,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beguiling mystery, February 23, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Stolen Blue: A Claire Reynier Mystery (Claire Reynier Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Librarian Claire Reynier heads up the Collection Department for Southwest research at the University of New Mexico. Her children are gown and left the nest and her divorce is final from her philandering spouse. Claire feels free not having to answer to anyone. Claire accepts an invitation from her former mentor Burke Lowell to come to his ranch alongside the Blue River to pick up his valuable collection that he is donating to the university. Claire witnesses Burke sign his will that leaves the ranch to Mariah Geraty, whom he recognizes as his long lost daughter. While Claire goes to sleep, an ailing Burke goes outside in the freezing weather to die.

As the executor of Burke's will, Claire fights with his other children to defend what he wanted done. They feel Mariah coerced their father onto his action and refuse to believe that she is his child. Someone steals one of the books from Burke's collection. Claire soon realizes that book, 'The History of the Blue', has also been filched from every other known location in the area. Claire feels the will and the thefts connect so she begins investigating, not realizing the danger that will soon surface.

STOLEN BLUE is a beguiling mystery filled with fascinating and likable characters. Judith Van Gieson has created an admirable protagonist who at the crossroads of her life thrives on her new independence. The audience will want to know what happens to Claire in future installments of this charming series. Readers will obtain a genuine feel for the Southwest, especially the beauty of the land and the strength of the people who live there. Ms. Van Gieson proves she is a powerful storyteller with this interesting mystery.

Harriet Klausner

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Southwestern bibliophile mystery, July 10, 2000

By 

Sheila L. Beaumont (South Pasadena, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Stolen Blue (Claire Reynier Mysteries) (Paperback)

I've heard Judith Van Gieson's previous mysteries described as hard-boiled, but this one's definitely a cozy. The sleuth is Claire Reynier, a librarian at the University of New Mexico's Center for Southwest Research, who practices tai chi, loves books, listens to Mozart, and has a cat named Nemesis. Her dying mentor, Burke Lovell, turns over his private collection of Southwest-related books to the university. While Claire is at his ranch, located in a remote region called "the Blue," to pick up the books, Burke commits suicide with the assistance of a newfound daughter. When Claire returns to the university, a box containing some especially valuable books (including two by Tony Hillerman) and a volume titled "History of the Blue" is stolen. This mystery is great fun for book lovers. It's replete with eccentric bibliophiles, various libraries, and antiquarian bookstores. Ms. Van Gieson's characterizations and descriptions are vivid and detailed. If you've ever been in New Mexico, this book will take you back there; if you haven't, you'll get a good idea of what it's like. Apparently the editors and proofreaders didn't quite make it to the end of the book. They did a fairly good job until the very last paragraph, where someone is referred to by the wrong name. That aside, this is a very entertaining read, and I look forward to more of Claire's adventures in the promised sequel.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Where are the Editors?, June 12, 2000

By 

MARY ALICE KLINE (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Stolen Blue (Claire Reynier Mysteries) (Paperback)

I have enjoyed Judith Van Gieson and the Neil Hammel mysteries since I was first introduced to them them.

This latest effort of Ms. Van Gieson was promising. The new character, Claire Reynier, possesses two of my favorite things--a love of books and a cat!

What bothered me about this book was the quality of the writing (or is it editing?). I have to say I enjoyed the characters and some of Ms. Van Gieson's imagery. "The hallucinatory suburb of the city of sleep" and "evening pressing against the window" evoked a nice connection with the character at particular points in the story.

What bothered me were the grammatical errors, the fact that one of the interesting characters, John Harlan, (who promises to be a romantic interest of Claire in later books) had the name of his dead wife change from Jane (early in the book) to Ellen (at the end).

At the wrap-up stage of the story telling, it was a recitation of "where they are now" suddenly broken by out of place dialoge.

I like Claire--she's over 50 and more intereting than the usual "tough as nails" girl sleuths. I hope Ms. Van Gieson and her editors take more time with the next installment. I'd rather wait a little longer and not be distracted by the technical flaws!