BEYOND THE GRAVE

by Marcia & Bill Pronzini Muller ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 20, 1986

Muller and Pronzini, frequent collaborators, offer an initially intriguing double-mystery here--with two detectives, nearly 100 years apart, solving related puzzles. All too soon, however, it becomes apparent that the gimmick, unenlivened by cleverness or complexity, is little more than an excuse to make a full-length novel out of two thin mystery-stories. In the 1890's sections, Pronzini's San Francisco detective Quincannon (Quincannon) is hired to find the long-missing treasure of the Velasquez family: precious religious artifacts hidden during the Bear Flag Revolution of 1846. He follows the trail to the old Velasquez estate near Santa Barbara, discovers a corpse and a murderer. . .but not the treasure. Meanwhile, in alternating sections set in 1986, museum-director Elena Oliverez (The Tree of Death) Finds Quincannon's notes on the Velasquez case--which lead her, too, to look for the artifacts on the old estate grounds. And, along the way, Oliverez--quite by happenstance--unmasks an unconvincing psycho-killer in the neighborhood. Harmless but feeble fare, moistly padded out with Elena's frettings over her mother's health and her own humdrum love-life problems.

Pub Date: Oct. 20, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Walker

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1986

Categories: FICTION