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The Turquoise Shop

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( 200 ratings, 36 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Turquoise Shop by Frances Crane is a gripping mystery centred around Jean Holly, a jewellery shop owner in a small New Mexican town. After a storm temporarily welcomes a curious newcomer and a sudden, suspicious death occurs, Jean finds herself entangled in the intrigue. The story unfolds with a mix of detective work, local colour, and suspense as hidden secrets come to light.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're a fan of classic whodunits with a touch of charm. Set against the intriguing backdrop of a Southwestern town, it combines suspense, quirky characters, and a hint of romance, offering a delightful blend of mystery and regional colour.

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In a small arts community in mid-century New Mexico, a wealthy patron is accused of murder

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In a small, artsy New Mexico town, the arrival of a wealthy stranger from back East is enough to get folks talking. Even a few years after Mona Brandon landed in Santa Maria, the rumour mill still churns with tidbits about her money, her influence, and—when a corpse is discovered in the nearby desert that may or may not be her husband—her secret and suspicious past.

From the counter at her local jewellery and art shop, Jean Holly has a front-row seat for all this gossip and more, after her acquaintance with Pat Abbott, the detective investigating the apparent murder, turns romantic. With his deductive reasoning and her local knowledge combined, they have everything they need to discover whodunnit. But will they be able to put the pieces together and solve the mystery before the killer strikes again?

With characters and a setting inspired by Mabel Dodge Luhan and the Taos art colony, The Turquoise Shop is a delightful Golden Age mystery adorned with Southwestern historical detail. It is the first novel in the popular and long-running Pat and Jean Abbott series, which charmed mid-century audiences with over twenty-five installments and which was adapted for multiple radio programmes in the 40s and 50s.

Series: An American Mystery Classic

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  • Waltz into Darkness
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Turquoise Shop is praised for its picturesque setting and engaging plot.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781613163658

Publisher: Penzler Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 September 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: American Mystery Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction and notes by Anne Hillerman

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 135.0mm

Height: 206.0mm

Weight: 318g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Frances Crane (1890-1981) was an American author and a former writer for The New Yorker. Crane was invited to leave Nazi Germany in the late 1930s after writing a number of unfavorable articles about Adolf Hitler. After settling in Taos, Crane introduced private investigator Pat Abbott and his future wife Jean in her first novel, The Turquoise Shop (1941). The Abbotts investigated crimes in a total of 26 volumes, each with a color in the title, with settings around the country and globe. Anne Hillerman is the New York Times bestselling author of the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito novels, a continuation of the series created by her father Tony Hillerman.

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