Old Poison: A Diana Hunter Mystery (Paperback)

by Joan Francis (Author)
Key Phrases: hyacinth red, gallo pinto, environmental expo, Joan Francis, Old Poison, Costa Rica (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Private Eye Diana Hunter knows better than to get involved with an unlikely document called the Martian Diary, but curiosity conquers common sense and she is soon confronted with an unprovoked attack and unexplained death. These deadly realities force her to answer the question: Why would anyone take the Martian Diary seriously enough to kill for it? From the New Mexico desert to the rain forest of Costa Rica, with mean streets in between, itÂ’s Sam Spade meets global warming. Environmentalists, crackpots, and clandestine corporate agents create a toxic brew of high-octane action where unearthed truths and misplaced trust could get you killed. An expert in disguise, with a face people trust, Diana will need all her instincts and investigative skills to stay alive and unmask the killer.

About the Author
Joan Francis, the daughter of a mining engineer, is a private eye whose career began as a newspaper reporter. Her debut eco-thriller, Old Poison, is enriched by her experiences in mining camps from the Southwest to South America and by her eye for detail, environmental awareness, insatiable curiosity, and reporter's nose for news.

Product Details

• Paperback: 215 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (April 20, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595274889
• ISBN-13: 978-0595274888
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,019,358 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A very smart mystery from an intelligent PI, December 25, 2003

By	Barbara A. Montgomery "dsembodied" (Tehachapi, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Joan Francis' book Old Poison has a heckuva lot going for it. An intriguing set of characters, a great plot, timely material, clever set dressing and lots more. I liked her female PI protagonist a lot and it's because Francis knows her stuff - she was a PI herself. Learn what it takes to be a sucessful modern PI and what kind of sleazebags you can run up against. Highly recommended.

4.0 out of 5 stars A great debut novel that will keep you turning pages., August 13, 2003

By	Robin L. Taylor (In the Library Reviews) - See all my reviews

Diana Hunter, a private investigator, is asked to check out the possibility of the existence of a new environmentally friendly fuel that is contained in a document called the Martian Diary. Believing that this is simply a crank case Diana agrees to meet with the author of the document Evelyn Lilac. She soon discovers herself in the middle of an unprovoked attack and an unexplained death.
The story builds in tension as Diana travels from deserts of New Mexico to the jungles of Costa Rica in order to find the reasons for Lilacs death. As the body count rises Diana finds herself dealing with environmentalists, crackpots, and unscrupulous corporate agents.

Joan Francis has written a good debut novel, which will keep you turning the pages. Her own experience as reporter, a private investigator, her knowledge of mining camps from New Mexico to South America along with her keen eye for detail adds depth to the story. The character of Diana Hunter is well rounded out and the story is extremely well edited. I look forward to future adventures of Diana Hunter by the very talented author.

Lillian Porter

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read!, July 15, 2003

By	"qimel" (Lancaster, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This is a fun book that is a quick read. The character is witty and adventurous. It is fast paced and has many surprises. There is a feel of realism in the fiction that leaves you wondering about real life current events. Highly recommended.