Rating: 
Summary: I just wasn't sure...
Review: I've been a fan of the Mark Manning series for a while now. When it was announced that Mr. Craft's next work was not going to center on Manning, I was heartbroken, skeptical, worried that we'd never hear from him again.Then I read 'Desert Autumn.' Quickly. I had a hard time putting it down. Nancy Drew to Mark and Neil's Hardy Boys? I'm not sure it's even legal to put it that way, but there it is. And I'll say it again if you like. Bottom line: If you enjoy Craft's other works, you WILL enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: A STANDING OVATION FOR CLAIRE GREY'S DEBUT!
Review: In DESERT AUTUMN Michael Craft finally gives voice (and a new mystery series) to Claire Grey, his first lady of the American theater who had been previously introduced as a minor character in his successful Mark Manning series. Now as she begins her own series, Claire's reputation as a leading theatrical director and playwright has brought her to the attention of computer software maven, D.Glenn Yeats. Yeats is personally supplying the cash and drive needed to build and staff his own Desert Arts College near Palm Springs, California. His goal is to create the ultimate educational facility dedicated to the arts staffed by the leading practitioners in each of its many fields. Naturally he sees Claire as the crowning jewel of his illustrious faculty, and after repeated attempts he finally persuades in her to head the drama department of the school. The novel begins with Claire's arrival in the desert shortly before the opening of the school year where she is quickly introduced to not just the other members of the faculty, but also the body of the wife of one of her fellow professors. Naturally, the woman has been murdered; and Claire (noting that in the theater the two motives for murder are either greed or passion) decides that the motive for this murder had to be passion as she sets out to (unofficially) aid the police in uncovering the murderer. The book is fast-paced and well-endowed with plot twists. Just when you think you've discovered the identity of the murderer, another potential suspect is revealed. Actually, the characters keep auditioning for the part of the murderer right up to the concluding chapter, which naturally ends with a traditionally theatrical flair. DESERT AUTUMN is a well-written and entertaining novel with the cast of extremely interesting characters needed to populate a continuing series. Although, I felt at times the key characters of Grant and Kiki just didn't ring true. But based on the author's previous work, this minor detail will be resolved as the series progresses. Overall, I was particularly attracted to this book because it combines two of my interests - mystery fiction and the world of the theater. Claire Grey is a welcome addition to the ranks of fiction's amateur sleuths and I not only look forward to her continuing adventures, I also encourage you to add her to
your reading list, too.
Rating:
Summary: excellant reading
Review: Michael Craft has done it again with his new series. Excellant story line fast paced easy read. Left me guessing throughout.
Rating:
Summary: excellant reading
Review: Michael Craft has done it again with his new series. Excellant story line fast paced easy read. Left me guessing throughout.
Rating:
Summary: A fantstic new mystey series is born
Review: Not that many people start life anew at fifty-four, but Claire Gray is one person who did. Claire was once the toast of Broadway as an award winning director and playwright, but relocates to Palm Desert to manage the Desert Arts College Theater. Mega-millionaire Glenn Yeats recruited the most talented people including Claire to chair the departments at the school.
At a welcoming party hosted by Glenn, Claire meets and hits it off with fellow chair Paul Huron and his wife Jodie. When Paul needs a ride from airport, Claire volunteers to take him. Upon arriving at his home, they find Jodie dead with her valuable wedding ring missing. Claire becomes obsessed with the case and soon proves quite competent at finding clues; She is so good the lead investigator officially adds her to his team.
While it seems implausible for a police officer to allow a civilian to help in a homicide case, the heroine's mindset and actions will make believers out of readers. Michael Craft provides an intense tale with appealing characters that the audience will want back in future novels. DESERT AUTUMN appears to be the first novel on what has the potential of being a great series. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: A fantstic new mystey series is born
Review: Not that many people start life anew at fifty-four, but Claire Gray is one person who did. Claire was once the toast of Broadway as an award winning director and playwright, but relocates to Palm Desert to manage the Desert Arts College Theater. Mega-millionaire Glenn Yeats recruited the most talented people including Claire to chair the departments at the school.
At a welcoming party hosted by Glenn, Claire meets and hits it off with fellow chair Paul Huron and his wife Jodie. When Paul needs a ride from airport, Claire volunteers to take him. Upon arriving at his home, they find Jodie dead with her valuable wedding ring missing. Claire becomes obsessed with the case and soon proves quite competent at finding clues; She is so good the lead investigator officially adds her to his team.
While it seems implausible for a police officer to allow a civilian to help in a homicide case, the heroine's mindset and actions will make believers out of readers. Michael Craft provides an intense tale with appealing characters that the audience will want back in future novels. DESERT AUTUMN appears to be the first novel on what has the potential of being a great series. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Dazzling
Review: The first book in Craft's new mystery series dazzles, delights, and delivers a mesmerizing puzzle. Claire Gray is recruited to a new university, and offers to drive a colleague home from the airport. So she's with him when he discovers the body of his wife in their home. Not agreeing with the scenario offered by the police, Claire gets involved in solving the crime, and ultimately finds herself in danger. But with so many suspects and very few motives, how can she figure it all out? "Desert Autumn" heralds a welcome new series full of wit, beautiful backdrops, and engaging characters. Michael Craft's mysteries continue to outshine his competition.
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