Customer Reviews

The Stolen Blue (Claire Reynier Mysteries)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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

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.

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!

This is the first in this series featuring Claire Reynier, Acquisitions Librarian for New Mexico's Center for Southwest Research. Her mentor summons her to his house to witness his will in which he gives her Center his extensive book collection and his house to his daughter. When a portion of the collection is stolen from her truck, Claire sets out to recover the books, find out who stole the books since only a handful of people knew she had them, and why anyone would want to steal them in the first place. There isn't much mystery here, but there is tons of atmosphere. Van Gieson's New Mexico comes alive with her skillful pen - you can almost smell the creosote smoke in the air. However, this slim book moves along at a very leisurely pace so if you like the kind of mysteries with lots of twists and turns and a mad dash to the denouement, this is not the book for you. If you like your mysteries in the cozy genre, grab this book up.

Author Judith Van Gieson took time out from her mystery series starring Neil Hamel, to create a second series. This is the first book in what I believe is a superior series to Hamel.

The book's a gift to booklovers (much like John Dunning's work), in that, as a rare-books librarian at a University campus, heroine Claire takes us into the world of collectors, readers, what makes value, and just the love of all things "bookish". She's an interesting heroine, with grown children, newly divorced from a marriage that makes you wonder (why did she stay?)and a new job in the often cutthroat world of academia.

A wealthy mentor has died, leaving his books collection to the University where Claire is employed. It's a feather in her cap, but she also finds herself needing to agree to be the executor of his estate. His odd family and his ranch, in a rancher vs. naturalist part of New Mexico have you saying silently to her..."What, are you nuts?"

From both the donation and the need to be the executor come the mysteries. I must say, I thought the culprit in each would be different, but I was proven wrong. The mystery line is gentle, probably a good way to introduce a librarian into the world of crime solving.

The real star in this book, however, is Gieson's imagery and depth of feeling for the New Mexico landscape. Both the raw power and beauty of the area are on display for all to see and enjoy. She's really given the reader something solid here, as I found myself homesick, and wishing I had a Southwestern desert vacation planned. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

mystery/murder books have always been overlooked by me. plots and themes are too predictable.

i ordered this from University of New Mexico Press. since i live in the Southwest, i was naturally 'drawn' to this book. the main setting is Albuquerque. i've lived there and will always love that city.

five pages into the reading; i could not put it down. sure, i'm biased towards the Southwest.

This particular book can appeal to anyone. (like Tony Hillerman appeals to just about anyone).

i 'sailed' through it the first time. took a few days off reading other books. then, i found myself re-reading: THE STOLEN BLUE.

i seldom,if ever, recommend a book. but this time, i WOULD recommend it to anyone.

...like Tony Hillerman's writings are popular EVEYWHERE, Judith Van Gieson has bestselling potential here.

rarely do i find myself re-reading a book so soon. THE STOLEN BLUE was one of those books.

'nuff said?

With Claire Reynier's first appearance in The Stolen Blue I was hooked from the first lines on. Judith Van Gieson succeeds in bringing together full-fledged characters, right settings and innovative leads. A powerful storyteller, the author needs neither old tricks of the trade nor gore to embark the reader on a great tale. Her story provides just the right mix of past and present, joy and sorrow, right and wrong that makes it so real and so appealing. I found myself looking forward to going home to enjoy. Judith Van Gieson really gives the reader something that's increasingly hard to find today : a really good plot packed with insights, wit, finesse and new characters to believe in.

As a lover of the Southwest, I found Stolen Blue was very satisfying. I found myself underlining all sorts of places, books, etc. mentioned in the text to follow up. The "atmosphere" was terrific..

The negative was that the "mystery" aspects of the book were transparent. You KNEW the books would be stolen from her car, you KNEW the "History of the Blue" would be the important stolen book (the title alone gave it away!)so there weren't so many "surprises" that mysteries often have. And the eventual "killer" seemed somewhat arbitrary.

Still, the the writing drew you in, the atmosphere held you there, and the "mystery" pulled you through! The quasi-intellectual aspects were also a plus.

More!!

This is an intriguing biblio-mystery. When Claire's long-time friend Burke Lovell dies, leaving her library a collection of valuable books and placing Claire in charge of settling his estate, he also leaves this librarian a heap of trouble. Shortly after returning to the library with her acquisition of Burke's book collection, a particularly valuable box of books is stolen from Claire's truck. Upset, but determined to catch the thief, Claire reaches out to her contacts in the rare book world to help her solve the crime. She doesn't just want to recover the books - she wants the thief to pay for the crime. Claire eventually discovers that the motive for the crime may go deeper than suspected and there may be more to the books than their face value. As Claire unravels the thief's true motives, an engaging read for both book and mystery lovers comes to life.

I have read and enjoyed Judy Van Gieson's books for years, including The Stolen Blue. I did not notice any grammatical errors in this book, probably because I was so taken with the story and the vivid description of New Mexico and "The Blue". Van Gieson's new book will get you hooked from the first page. Claire, Van Geison's new heroine, is an interesting, intelligent and real person who's love of books and the southwest will keep you turning pages. As always, Van Geison's words flow smoothly and the mystery draws you in and keeps you guessing till the end.