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Iris Thorne Mysteries #1
Cold Call
Iris Thorne traded her job teaching the deaf for a career in Los Angeles’ glittering financial district, where the day starts on Wall Street time at 6:00 a.m., and—in the "greed is good" late 1980s—all of life’s questions have numbers for answers.
Big numbers. With her not-quite-paid-for Anne Klein suits and Triumph sports car, which leaks a little oil, Iris is a high-stakes success. Still, the only man at the office who knew the real Iris was Alley, the deaf and handicapped mailman. When Alley is killed, the police insist he was a victim of random gang violence. Iris doesn’t buy it—and Alley’s death has left her with several problems. The first is lanky, red-headed police detective John Somers. . . Iris’s first love, back in her life after twenty years. Then there’s Alley’s secret legacy—a safe deposit box filled with souvenirs and some well-worn items of sentimental value: 238,000 of them, in hundreds, bundled together with rubber bands.
The cops are looking for a killer. Some professional hard guys are looking for revenge. And, for a lost friend, Iris is looking for justice—a high-priced commodity in L.A., where life can be even cheaper than dreams
Big numbers. With her not-quite-paid-for Anne Klein suits and Triumph sports car, which leaks a little oil, Iris is a high-stakes success. Still, the only man at the office who knew the real Iris was Alley, the deaf and handicapped mailman. When Alley is killed, the police insist he was a victim of random gang violence. Iris doesn’t buy it—and Alley’s death has left her with several problems. The first is lanky, red-headed police detective John Somers. . . Iris’s first love, back in her life after twenty years. Then there’s Alley’s secret legacy—a safe deposit box filled with souvenirs and some well-worn items of sentimental value: 238,000 of them, in hundreds, bundled together with rubber bands.
The cops are looking for a killer. Some professional hard guys are looking for revenge. And, for a lost friend, Iris is looking for justice—a high-priced commodity in L.A., where life can be even cheaper than dreams
- GenresMystery
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1993
7 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 14, 2012
This book was bad, so bad that there is no way I am going to waste time finishing it. I made it about half way through and was extremely disgusted with the quality of the writing. I have seen grade school student write a more coherent story. I can't believe any professional editor would allow something like this to be published.
Apparently Emley learned a lot by the time she got around to writing her Nan Vining series.
Apparently Emley learned a lot by the time she got around to writing her Nan Vining series.
July 30, 2017
Cold Call by Dianne Pugh introduces the Iris Thorne mystery series set in contemporary Los Angeles. Flashy dresser Iris Thorne has a high-stakes career in the financial district, where she struggles to meet daily sales goals. She must sell investments to 'cold calls' - strangers she telephones. Iris is subject to locker-room jokes and hazing by male co-workers who act like high school kids playing juvenile pranks. Iris made friends only with the deaf janitor Alley. When he's murdered on the street, it's brushed off by almost everyone as a gang action, but Iris doesn't believe it. Distracted by the investigating detective John Somers, her high-school sweetheart, Iris nevertheless manages to search her firm's offices and find evidence of illegal dealings and a cover-up at the highest level. She narrowly escapes mortal danger, restores Alley's good name, and rekindles her relationship with John. She seems at times to be just as shallow as the other jerks in her firm, with her clothing obsession. Whereas John comes across as a truly kind man, someone she is very lucky to meet up with again. Perhaps he can help her find purpose in her life, as the series continues.
May 31, 2024
The writing style of this book was not my favorite - and it had a lot of odd rhythms to it - but the story itself was great until the end!
February 17, 2012
Slugging it out with the big boys in the trenches of Los Angeles’ glittering financial district Iris Thorne has to fight for every scrap of power she can get, and all too often finds herself playing by a set of rules she feels both stacked against her and powerless to change.
Still, she has an apartment with a nice view of the ocean, a closet full of designer clothes (even if they aren’t quite paid off yet), and a snazzy Triumph sports car (even if it does leak a little oil). All told, she’s doing well for herself and has had no reason to question the path her life is taking. All that changes overnight when one of her coworkers is murdered.
Alley Munoz was not only the mailroom/all-around “go to” guy in the office, he was also Iris’ best friend at the company. Having previously taught the deaf for several years before embarking on her financial career, Iris got along well with Alley, who was himself both deaf and physically handicapped as well.
When the police seem inclined to write-off Alley’s death as being the result of a drug deal gone wrong given his ethnicity and the location of the murder Iris is incensed, and determined to prove them wrong. Easier said than done, especially considering the lead detective on the case, John Somers, also happens to be the man Iris was seriously involved with during her college years. Now Iris not only has to deal with essentially solving Alley’s murder on her own, but also with the feelings stirred up by the divorced detective’s reappearance in her life.
Iris’ poking around stirs up more than she bargained for when she opens a safety deposit box Alley left her access to and finds over $200,000 in cash. Further digging unearths evidence that suggests both money laundering and massive embezzlement is occurring at her firm. Suddenly Iris has a bigger problem on her hands than convincing the police Alley wasn’t involved with drugs; she has to stay one step ahead of some very bad guys who are none too pleased that she’s upset their operation.
Cold Call’s late 80s setting is a vivid trip down memory lane for those who lived through that “Greed is good” period of excess. From the Rolex wearing, coke snorting boys in the office to the Anne Klein power suits worn by Iris to the jams and oversized t-shirt with rolled sleeves worn by Detective Somers’ daughter, the period details are spot on. Indeed, Cold Call provides the same nostalgic atmosphere – and well-written mystery – that you get with Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone series.
It’s not all just an atmospheric trip down memory lane, however, as our introduction to Iris Thorne proves her to be a smart, determined, complicated character more than worthy of having a series built around her. You’ll not only be rooting for her to solve the mystery, but also pulling for her to punch one particularly obnoxious “Boys Club” coworker’s lights out, something she’s more than capable of doing. Iris Thorne is one Cold Call you will actually be happy to answer.
Still, she has an apartment with a nice view of the ocean, a closet full of designer clothes (even if they aren’t quite paid off yet), and a snazzy Triumph sports car (even if it does leak a little oil). All told, she’s doing well for herself and has had no reason to question the path her life is taking. All that changes overnight when one of her coworkers is murdered.
Alley Munoz was not only the mailroom/all-around “go to” guy in the office, he was also Iris’ best friend at the company. Having previously taught the deaf for several years before embarking on her financial career, Iris got along well with Alley, who was himself both deaf and physically handicapped as well.
When the police seem inclined to write-off Alley’s death as being the result of a drug deal gone wrong given his ethnicity and the location of the murder Iris is incensed, and determined to prove them wrong. Easier said than done, especially considering the lead detective on the case, John Somers, also happens to be the man Iris was seriously involved with during her college years. Now Iris not only has to deal with essentially solving Alley’s murder on her own, but also with the feelings stirred up by the divorced detective’s reappearance in her life.
Iris’ poking around stirs up more than she bargained for when she opens a safety deposit box Alley left her access to and finds over $200,000 in cash. Further digging unearths evidence that suggests both money laundering and massive embezzlement is occurring at her firm. Suddenly Iris has a bigger problem on her hands than convincing the police Alley wasn’t involved with drugs; she has to stay one step ahead of some very bad guys who are none too pleased that she’s upset their operation.
Cold Call’s late 80s setting is a vivid trip down memory lane for those who lived through that “Greed is good” period of excess. From the Rolex wearing, coke snorting boys in the office to the Anne Klein power suits worn by Iris to the jams and oversized t-shirt with rolled sleeves worn by Detective Somers’ daughter, the period details are spot on. Indeed, Cold Call provides the same nostalgic atmosphere – and well-written mystery – that you get with Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone series.
It’s not all just an atmospheric trip down memory lane, however, as our introduction to Iris Thorne proves her to be a smart, determined, complicated character more than worthy of having a series built around her. You’ll not only be rooting for her to solve the mystery, but also pulling for her to punch one particularly obnoxious “Boys Club” coworker’s lights out, something she’s more than capable of doing. Iris Thorne is one Cold Call you will actually be happy to answer.
December 7, 2012
Dianne Emley's first book is a hoot and a half. While there are a few inevitable first-time-author faux pas, Emley should be commended for not yielding to the temptation to rewrite when she reissued. This is the beginning of a writer's journey, frozen in time, and it's an auspicious beginning indeed.
Her Nan Vining series is considerably more polished and suspenseful, but Iris Thorne is a delightful character to spend time and well worth a read.
Her Nan Vining series is considerably more polished and suspenseful, but Iris Thorne is a delightful character to spend time and well worth a read.
October 30, 2009
This author is quite good -- fast-paced California investment counselor who gets caught up in a murder investigation.
November 14, 2014
Iris
Wonderful tale with the compassionate Iris Thorne! Fantastic first entry to this series. Looking forward to the next installment!!! Enjoy
Wonderful tale with the compassionate Iris Thorne! Fantastic first entry to this series. Looking forward to the next installment!!! Enjoy
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews