The Cliff House Strangler (Sarah Woolson Mysteries) (Hardcover)

by Shirley Tallman (Author) "I can't believe I let you talk me into this!" Robert Campbell grumbled..." (more)
Key Phrases: yer pardon, Madame Karpova, Miss Woolson, Darien Moss (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Plucky lawyer Sarah Woolson arrives at rugged Land's End on a predictably dark and stormy night in Tallman's third entertaining and atmospheric 1880s San Francisco whodunit (after 2005's The Russian Hill Murders). Socialites have gathered at Cliff House for a séance with Madame Karpova, self-proclaimed Russian psychic. She puts on a good show until tell-all columnist Darien Moss decides to spoil the party. Then comes a crash of lightning, the lights go out, and when they come back on, Darien is found garroted with a balalaika string. Sarah, trying to establish herself as San Francisco's first female attorney, turns sleuth with the help of her devoted brother, a crime novelist. Mounting corpses distract Sarah from the miseries of her first client, a single mother whose flight from a drunken husband (legally represented by Sarah's love interest, Robert Campbell) provides a poignant subplot. Tallman throws in some unexpected twists, keeping the reader guessing to the end. (July)
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From Booklist
Nineteenth-century feminist lawyer Sarah Woolson (Murder on Nob Hill, 2004, and The Russian Hill Murders, 2005) has just opened her own law firm in San Francisco. While waiting for paying clients, she decides to satisfy her curiosity about spiritualism and do her journalist brother a favor by attending a séance given by Madame Karpova at the Cliff House. Her friend and fellow lawyer Robert Campbell accompanies her. The surroundings are suitably eerie. Cliff House sits on the rocky shore above the Pacific Ocean, and a raging thunderstorm makes the room dark. The attendees include some of San Francisco's elite as well as a less-than-respectable gossip columnist, who ends up dead as the séance and the storm provide cover for the murderer. Sarah finds herself in the middle of a complex case involving Russians, ghosts, corrupt politicians (one of whom is her brother), and City Hall. This is a fine historical series with a strong female sleuth who stands up for herself and plots that raises issues that remain relevant today. Bibel, Barbara

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books (July 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312357567
• ISBN-13: 978-0312357566
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #616,892 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 3 in The Sarah Woolson Mystery Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Yet!, July 17, 2007

By	Cat Lover (Danville, CA) - See all my reviews

THE CLIFF HOUSE STRANGLER is a fast-paced, intriguing mystery with authentic historical details that make you feel like you're actually there. Set in 1880s San Francisco, female attorney Sarah Woolson is a brave, outspoken, caring heroine who will go to any lengths to help her clients, in contrast to some of her opinionated and prejudiced male colleagues. I loved the psychic sub-plot, which reflects the obsession with spiritualism during this time period. Tallman kept me guessing whodunit until the very end of the book! A real page turner. I highly recommend this third book in the Sarah Woolson historical mystery series. In my opinion, it's the best one yet!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More twists & turns than Lombard Street!, July 17, 2007

By	JimDogs (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews

The Cliff House Strangler continues the Sarah Woolson series with a great story that provides the many twists & turns that we have come to expect from Ms. Tallman. Her characters & settings convey a story that makes you feel as if you have returned to San Francisco of yesteryear!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great summer read, July 14, 2007

By	doc peterson (Portland, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

_The Cliffhouse Strangler_, Shirley Tallman's third Sarah Woolson mystery, revolves around a murder at a seance. As Sarah attempts to solve the mystery several participants (and suspects) are murdered, thickening the plot even as the list of possible murderers is narrowed down. While working on "who done it", a charming sub-plot develops between Woolson and her earstwhile love interest, Robert Campbell, as they represent opposing sides in a divorce settlement. What appear to be red-herrings are not necessicarily so, as divergent characters and tangents are in one way or another related to the mystery at hand. This story will keep you guessing to the end.

The historical fiction elements of the book are great- from the descriptions of 1880's San Francisco to the details of dress, an atmosphere of authenticity is lent to the larger mystery itself. Tallman tends to lay on the gender and social inequalities of the period a bit thick at times, ("women are physically and emotionally incapable of comprehending such matters. Go home and knit something and leave business like this to your betters.") but it is exactly the intelligence and strength of characters like Sarah Woolson facing and overcoming these attitudes that draw me to the series.

In the final analysis, its a great summer (or airplane) read - the loose ends are tied up, the wrong-doers get their due, and gradually (begrudgingly) the heroine gets some respect.