Black Diamond

Anneke Haagen #4

by Susan Holtzer

Ann Arbor sleuth Anneke Haagen and her partner, Lt. Karl Genesko, investigate a murder in a dorm at the University of Michigan, a crime that looks to be a set up implicating the victim's wealthy roommate.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Cozy

309 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Education
University of Michigan

A U-M alumna who cut her teeth as a writer at the Michigan Daily.

Reviews

[Rachel N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zoe Kaplan accompanies fellow dorm mate Clare Swann to her aunt's house where her aunt's estate is being divided up. Clare is given a box that her aunt's will says is connected to Black Diamond. Then a body is found in Clare's dorm room. Anneke Hagan is supposed to be the main character in this series but this book was much more about Zoe and Clare than Anneke. I liked that the story tied into the logging history of Michigan.

[Ruth Kevghas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the characters in her books

[Ro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story within a story

[Wendy French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a fun "local" read mystery.

[Vicki Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this mystery series because the main character, Anneke Haagen, is a computer programmer, but there has been little of programming in the books so far. In fact, she's not even the main character in this book. That falls to Zoe Kaplan, an student reporter for the U. of Michigan paper, who was introduced in a previous book. A friend of hers finds her long-lost father dead in her dorm room, not long after she has inherited a mysterious box from her great-aunt, which box is now missing. This friend, Clare Swann, has the most unpleasant family you can imagine, but they are entertaining. Before the box went missing, the young women removed some letters written by Clare's ancestor and another woman in the 1890s. They are hoping the letters will lead to what Clare's great-aunt always said was a great fortune. The mystery's a good one and the letters are very interesting.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's been quite a long time since i've read an Anneke Hagen mystery, so when i saw this on a list, i decided to check it out. There were quite a few surprises in this story - for example, the motive for the murder crept in from left field, although hints had been dropped. I like how Holtzer wove together the 19th and 20th century plots in a mostly non-intrusive way, although her decision to keep the 19th c parts realistic instead of romanticized led to those parts being rather brutal at points.

I couldn't always keep the timeline straight, and there were certain details that really bugged me (in particular, the fact that Zoe and Clare never studied or went to class and almost never angsted over what they *should* be doing). But overall, I enjoyed the book and am glad I returned to the series.

[Sue Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery at the University of Michigan. Undergraduate sports writer works with 50 year old computer consultant and her finanee, a police officer. Involves nineteenth century lumber industry and violence. Clever story, fun to read.

[Elizabeth Hunter · Rating 2 out of 5]

The local detail is probably fun for people who know Ann Arbor and the historical back story is interesting, but the mystery is pretty generic.

[February Four · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew! Well done--I definitely got sucked in to this one.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really like this series, discovered from a book discarded by my library.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different, combines a historical account with a contemporary murder in Michigan.
Uses Internet and lists sites.
Pretty good.

[Luci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent cozy mystery, but not spectacular.