When Wallflowers Die (Phoebe Siegel Mystery) [Paperback]

Sandra West Prowell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Phoebe Siegel Mystery | Publication Date: May 5, 1997

Tough as barbed wire and just as tightly strung, Phoebe Siegel is a cop turned private detective with too much past, too much family, and a talent for diving too deep into a case.

Bob Maitland is the golden boy of Montana politics, poised to run for governor.  There's just one loose end in his life--the 27-year-old killing of his heiress
wife, Ellen, which was never solved.  Maitland wants Phoebe Siegel to find the long-missing construction worker who either committed or witnessed the murder.  Phoebe, no fan of Maitland's style, promises only to think it over.  After Maitland trumpets their supposed agreement to the press, Phoebe hears from another potential client.  Frank Chillman swears Ellen Maitland's murder and the murder of his prostitute sister, one day later, are related.  Before Phoebe can even check out his story, he's found shot to death.  With a dead man for a client, she plunges into the case, trying to find the connection between a rich wallflower and a hard-luck call girl who died three decades ago.  The trail is long cold, but it heats up quickly as someone starts stalking Phoebe, with another killing in mind....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

She's feisty, independent and aggressive, and in her third appearance (after By Evil Means) Phoebe Siegel, a Billings, Mont., PI, is the driving force in a mystery that never lets up. Potential gubernatorial candidate Bob Maitland has asked Phoebe to look into the 25-year-old unsolved murder of his wife, heiress Ellen Dahl Maitland. Phoebe, often uncannily prescient, correctly assumes that the glib and opportunistic pol has another agenda and, instead, agrees to help an impoverished parolee, Frank Chillman, whose sister, a prostitute, had been bludgeoned to death 24 hours after Ellen was murdered. Frank is convinced that the two killings are connected. Unfortunately, he's murdered before he can speak further with Phoebe. But Phoebe, with grit and considerable courage (she barely escapes several murder attempts), pieces together a string of pungent interviews that suggest a long-lived and sinister conspiracy. Her wide circle of friends (Maggie, an earthy lawyer; deputy sheriff Kyle Old Wolf, an intriguing romantic prospect; Dougie, a repellent but valuable snitch) are energetic and vividly portrayed. Her fractious but caring Catholic-Jewish family fills her with just the right amount of guilt. This mystery, nicely balanced between wit and terror, owes much to its outspoken heroine, whose motto, "Investigations with an Attitude," says it all. Mystery Guild featured alternate; author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Approached by a well-known gubernatorial candidate-to-be, series sleuth Phoebe Siegel, last seen in The Killing of Mandy Brown (LJ 4/1/94), considers investigating the years-old unsolved murder of the man's errant heiress wife. She soon uncovers ties to another murder. Sudden violence follows each discovery, especially when Phoebe pursues the political angle. Well-written prose, surprising complications, and a tough heroine in tough terrain. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Crimeline; Bantam Pbk. Ed edition (May 5, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553569708
• ISBN-13: 978-0553569704
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.8 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,135,014 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:

4.0 out of 5 stars I was pleasently suprised at what a good story this is!, February 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: When Wallflowers Die (Phoebe Siegel Mystery) (Paperback)

The synopsis of this book does not do it justice. I will admit that I was a bit hesitant about buying this book based on the synopsis, but I am so glad I have now disovered Sandra West Prowell and Phoebe Siegel! They have brought me many enojoyable hours and my only regrete is that I did not find Ms. Prowell sooner!

Not only is this a good mystery, but Ms. Prowell adds enough detail of the people, surroundings, and action to make the story come alive.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She knows her turf, March 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: When Wallflowers Die: A Phoebe Siegel Mystery (Hardcover)

Sandra West Prowell's Montana mysteries are rooted in Montana's unique culture. With wit and verve, she writes these very readable mysteries that have endeared Prowell and her engaging sleuth, Phoebe Siegel, to many people nationwide.

She makes a valuable contribution to the mystery scene, using unique Montana settings.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read - fast moving - Phoebe Siegel is my kind of PI., October 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: When Wallflowers Die: A Phoebe Siegel Mystery (Hardcover)

I have read all of the Phoebe Siegel books that I can find. I am from Billings, Montana, currently living in the Kansas City area and these books take me home. I have been to all of the places described and that makes the stories all the more exciting and enjoyable to me.

Phoebe is the kind of woman PI I like - comparable to Milhone, Warshawski, and McCone. Keep the great stories coming - I need to get my Montana fix on a monthly basis!