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Fremont Jones #4
Emperor Norton's Ghost
Two years after the Great Earthquake that destroyed San Francisco, and a year after the bitter misunderstanding that almost destroyed their budding romance, Fremont Jones and Michael Archer are back in the City by the Bay, this time committed to being "partners in life and work." Their life is shared as equals, and their work is the private investigations agency they have opened together, but--not surprisingly, where Fremont is concerned--it's sometimes difficult to separate the two.
In fact, it's her friendship with a slightly flighty, pretty, and troubled young woman that gets Fremont involved in her first murder investigation. Frances McFadden is besotted with spiritualism, and the curious but skeptical Fremont agrees to accompany her to a séance. When Frances's husband finds out about their adventure, her punishment is both degrading and galvanizing at once. Then two mediums are murdered, Frances begins to discover her own talent for telepathy and takes a lover, and Fremont becomes dangerously embroiled in her friend's illicit liaison.
While Fremont hones her investigative skills, she also comes to a new appreciation of Michael's professional talents and his other special qualities as well. As in her three earlier mysteries, Dianne Day provides "foggy period atmosphere, a dash of dangerous romance" (Minneapolis Star Tribune), and a twisty new adventure for her intrepid sleuth.
Dianne Day spent her early years in the Mississippi Delta before moving to the San Francisco Bay area. Fremont Jones has appeared in three previous The Strange Files of Fremont Jones, which won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel, and two bestselling sequels-- Fire and Fog and The Bohemian Murders. Day, who now lives in San Francisco, is at work on her fifth Fremont Jones mystery, Death Train to Boston.
In fact, it's her friendship with a slightly flighty, pretty, and troubled young woman that gets Fremont involved in her first murder investigation. Frances McFadden is besotted with spiritualism, and the curious but skeptical Fremont agrees to accompany her to a séance. When Frances's husband finds out about their adventure, her punishment is both degrading and galvanizing at once. Then two mediums are murdered, Frances begins to discover her own talent for telepathy and takes a lover, and Fremont becomes dangerously embroiled in her friend's illicit liaison.
While Fremont hones her investigative skills, she also comes to a new appreciation of Michael's professional talents and his other special qualities as well. As in her three earlier mysteries, Dianne Day provides "foggy period atmosphere, a dash of dangerous romance" (Minneapolis Star Tribune), and a twisty new adventure for her intrepid sleuth.
Dianne Day spent her early years in the Mississippi Delta before moving to the San Francisco Bay area. Fremont Jones has appeared in three previous The Strange Files of Fremont Jones, which won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel, and two bestselling sequels-- Fire and Fog and The Bohemian Murders. Day, who now lives in San Francisco, is at work on her fifth Fremont Jones mystery, Death Train to Boston.
307 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 15, 2012
Perhaps I am at a disadvantage because I have not read the first two books in the series and so have not developed any sentimentality for the characters.
However, I was surprised to find the dialogue uninspired and often cliche. The heroine's choice of friend did her no credit and brought her deductive prowess into question. Both plot and character motivation seemed contrived and the denouement was gratuitously ghoulish. It evoked no emotional response in the reader as no emotional commitment to the victim involved in it had been supplied by the author. Altogether a rather amateurish finale followed by a silly epilogue.
However, I was surprised to find the dialogue uninspired and often cliche. The heroine's choice of friend did her no credit and brought her deductive prowess into question. Both plot and character motivation seemed contrived and the denouement was gratuitously ghoulish. It evoked no emotional response in the reader as no emotional commitment to the victim involved in it had been supplied by the author. Altogether a rather amateurish finale followed by a silly epilogue.
August 23, 2020
It's been a year since the Great Earthquake and fire in San Francisco, and the city is still rebuilding. And Fremont Jones, along with her partner-teacher-lover and an ex policeman, is building a detective agency. Her first solo case involves the murders of spiritual mediums. It becomes personal when her new friend, Frances, connects with a handsome assistant of one of the murdered mediums, with the intent of developing her own spiritual abilities. Already Frances has developed a relationship with Emperor Norton's spirit. Fremont is particularly concerned that Frances may be slated for murder, either by her abusive husband or by the late medium's assistant.
We see the world through Fremont's eyes as she negotiates a society where women hold limited power. Nevertheless she has power and respect among her associates. Wit and quirky characters provide entertainment. We feel the atmosphere of San Francisco, it's hills and fog and a bit of history. The novel's voice is somewhat like a cozy where horror is managed with discreetness that the times, the early 20th century, demand.
I would have preferred a little more depth, a little more detail with certain characters that had raised my curiosity. Despite that, the story stays on track without slowing the pace. Here is a fun, fast read.
We see the world through Fremont's eyes as she negotiates a society where women hold limited power. Nevertheless she has power and respect among her associates. Wit and quirky characters provide entertainment. We feel the atmosphere of San Francisco, it's hills and fog and a bit of history. The novel's voice is somewhat like a cozy where horror is managed with discreetness that the times, the early 20th century, demand.
I would have preferred a little more depth, a little more detail with certain characters that had raised my curiosity. Despite that, the story stays on track without slowing the pace. Here is a fun, fast read.
June 6, 2009
Another fun read by Dianne Day - only two more to go in the series as it appear she stopped writing these in 2001. Would make a wonderful TV series.
November 15, 2019
I recently found this title in a box of books in our home. While I am pretty sure I read it many, many years ago, I had no recollection of the story ... and I enjoyed it immensely!
Fremont Jones, and her life/business partner Michael Kosoff, have started a private investigation agency. They don't have any clients yet, so Fremont has some free time to spend with her new friend, Frances McFadden. Frances is very much interested in spiritualism, so the two attend a seance hosted by medium Abigail Locke. During the seance, Frances herself channels the spirit of San Francisco's eccentric Emperor Norton.
The next day, Abigail Locke is dead.
Thus begins Fremont's first case.
The book takes place in 1908 San Francisco, in a city still recovering from the great earthquake. We get a look at politics, social mores and more in the course of an entertaining "whodunnit" with a reveal that I simply did not see coming.
This was a fun fair play puzzle cozy, with delightful characters whom I felt as real people. I knew the streets they walked (albeit in modern times), and could see the geography just as well as I saw the characters.
A thoroughly delightful read.
Fremont Jones, and her life/business partner Michael Kosoff, have started a private investigation agency. They don't have any clients yet, so Fremont has some free time to spend with her new friend, Frances McFadden. Frances is very much interested in spiritualism, so the two attend a seance hosted by medium Abigail Locke. During the seance, Frances herself channels the spirit of San Francisco's eccentric Emperor Norton.
The next day, Abigail Locke is dead.
Thus begins Fremont's first case.
The book takes place in 1908 San Francisco, in a city still recovering from the great earthquake. We get a look at politics, social mores and more in the course of an entertaining "whodunnit" with a reveal that I simply did not see coming.
This was a fun fair play puzzle cozy, with delightful characters whom I felt as real people. I knew the streets they walked (albeit in modern times), and could see the geography just as well as I saw the characters.
A thoroughly delightful read.
November 11, 2017
I love the Fremont Jones books. My favorite was the one that dealt with the San Francisco Earthquake. It brought it home to me, what it must have been like back then. I love that these books take place in my two favorite U.S. cities, San Francisco and Boston.
Dianne Day wrote with clarity and charm. She has an active, passionate voice and imbued her character with an endearing, strong and independent personality. I befriended Fremont and went with her on her adventures, peering over her shoulder, trying to warn her when things were about to go badly. Far too often she didn't listen to me and put me through some anxious moments. I grieved with her for her father, worried with her about her friends and her lover. I wanted her to marry her partner, but I understood why she didn't. Both romantic and practical, hard-headed and softhearted, I was sorry to see the series end.
Dianne Day wrote with clarity and charm. She has an active, passionate voice and imbued her character with an endearing, strong and independent personality. I befriended Fremont and went with her on her adventures, peering over her shoulder, trying to warn her when things were about to go badly. Far too often she didn't listen to me and put me through some anxious moments. I grieved with her for her father, worried with her about her friends and her lover. I wanted her to marry her partner, but I understood why she didn't. Both romantic and practical, hard-headed and softhearted, I was sorry to see the series end.
July 9, 2020
This book was on my recommended list for a long time so I finally got it to read. I dnf'd this book very quickly. I hate to diss other peoples' work because they work hard at what they do and this is #4 in a series so enough people must have liked it enough to buy the earlier books.
But the writing was amateurish and awkward. There's no way around that. A reviewer should always write what they feel otherwise why even bother. I even restarted at a slower pace to give this another chance but the writing just seemed bad to me. The writing seems to be written by someone who has no talent in writing and is no good at putting thoughts into words. Some authors' words flow, this one is like walking over a field of rocks: painful and slow.
No doubt plenty of other people feel differently and all the best to the author and her fans. 1 star = did not like it in GR's 5 star system.
But the writing was amateurish and awkward. There's no way around that. A reviewer should always write what they feel otherwise why even bother. I even restarted at a slower pace to give this another chance but the writing just seemed bad to me. The writing seems to be written by someone who has no talent in writing and is no good at putting thoughts into words. Some authors' words flow, this one is like walking over a field of rocks: painful and slow.
No doubt plenty of other people feel differently and all the best to the author and her fans. 1 star = did not like it in GR's 5 star system.
September 20, 2017
Book four in the Fremont Jones series is well worth a read. Some interesting characters, including Fremont's father, show up for a spirited read. The only quibble I have is a lack of real suspects. I do like the way Day writes Fremont as a woman who thinks herself forward thinking and modern, but many of her decisions and actions are those of a woman still stuck. I hope she dresses up as a man in another book, that was a fun idea. I liked it more than book three. Still would like more mystery and less romance, but this series is extremely readable and the historical details are top notch.
June 14, 2019
Entertaining character development. And who doesn't like reading about San Francisco? A couple of murders happened near the beginning, and at the very end the protagonist finds the culprit, but not much happens mystery-wise through the rest of the book. No clues, no puzzle to solve. This book should come with a warning about the disgustingly gory scene at the end. Totally did not see that coming, yuk!
June 16, 2023
Fremont is back in San Francisco. She and Michael have set up their own shared detective agency and have hired Fremontʻs friend Wish, the straight arrow policeman as another detective. Wishʻs mother is a good addition to the story. I did not enjoy this book as much as the previous ones because maybe the setting was not as interesting to me. I read the whole thing but I didnʻt care too much about "who did it".
December 26, 2016
I really like this series, especially the protagonist, who is a woman in early 20th century San Francisco. She insists on pursuing her own course, even when some of her friends and relations are not happy about it.
September 27, 2018
This book brought in so many pieces of subject matter that I adore I feel I was predisposed to like it straight off. The characters are delightful to so I just may read some more despite this not being a genre I would normally pick.
August 9, 2017
So far my least favorite of the series.
January 17, 2018
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely read more of Fremont Jones and the J & K Agency.
April 27, 2021
I am enjoying this series. Fun easy reads.. but interesting.
November 3, 2022
An entertaining "light" read - just perfect for a cozy chair and a fire when its raining! A bit of a "stretch" for logic in the story, but I enjoyed it!
January 9, 2024
This one is another great entry for Day's Fremont Jones series. Very enjoyable with snippets of San Francisco history and Emperor Norton and his dogs thrown in.
December 13, 2012
This series has been on something of a steady decline since the first book. The first book was really good, with fun characters and an interesting setting. The main character was a little naive, but in a way that suited her age, upbringing, and situation. But I've liked the subsequent books less and less. And this one not very much at all. Fremont went from a young woman out on her own with an adventurous frame of mind and a fresh outlook on life...to a rather judgmental, prideful busybody with petulant toddler-like mood swings.
There's a bit of a plot change in this book compared to the others, in that Fremont talks Michael into opening a detective agency together with Fremont being an investigator and Michael acting in a consulting/mentor role. Except it's really clear that Fremont can't bring herself to actually appreciate Michael in a mentorship role because of their new romantic relationship. She has this desire to prove herself to everyone, but she can't seem to accept that she's still in training and it's not actually beneath her to accept guidance from others with more experience (toddler mood swings...I could probably have replaced out a lot of the dialogue in this book with: "No! Me do!"). Her relationship with Michael is completely annoying, which was rather disappointing because I really liked him in the first couple of books.
Add to all that a plot line about spiritualists/mediums, which I had zero interest in, and you've got a let-down read. Despite the fact that she brought in the Emperor of San Francisco, who's rather a cool historical personage.
My recommendation: read the first in this series, but skip these later books.
There's a bit of a plot change in this book compared to the others, in that Fremont talks Michael into opening a detective agency together with Fremont being an investigator and Michael acting in a consulting/mentor role. Except it's really clear that Fremont can't bring herself to actually appreciate Michael in a mentorship role because of their new romantic relationship. She has this desire to prove herself to everyone, but she can't seem to accept that she's still in training and it's not actually beneath her to accept guidance from others with more experience (toddler mood swings...I could probably have replaced out a lot of the dialogue in this book with: "No! Me do!"). Her relationship with Michael is completely annoying, which was rather disappointing because I really liked him in the first couple of books.
Add to all that a plot line about spiritualists/mediums, which I had zero interest in, and you've got a let-down read. Despite the fact that she brought in the Emperor of San Francisco, who's rather a cool historical personage.
My recommendation: read the first in this series, but skip these later books.
May 19, 2010
After Fremont and Michael return to San Francisco and start up a detective agency, Fremont's new friend Frances takes her to a seance. The shocking murder of the medium leaves Fremont with a case that's sure to get her new agency some much-wanted publicity, assuming that she survives to solve it.
Another Fremont Jones book with another excuse to send Michael off somewhere for a large portion of the story. At this point I'm wondering if they'll ever end up really working together. The ending was a bit disappointing, Fremont wouldn't have had a clue without a fairly big coincidence. There's also the matter of a note to Frances that wasn't resolved to my satisfaction.
These books have a great feel, but the story doesn't really live up to the style for me.
Another Fremont Jones book with another excuse to send Michael off somewhere for a large portion of the story. At this point I'm wondering if they'll ever end up really working together. The ending was a bit disappointing, Fremont wouldn't have had a clue without a fairly big coincidence. There's also the matter of a note to Frances that wasn't resolved to my satisfaction.
These books have a great feel, but the story doesn't really live up to the style for me.
October 12, 2012
It's official now. I am a Freemont Jones fan. She has finally matured from a spoiled immature girl to an adult. She has proved herself to be capable of all the things it takes to be an investigator. This case is her first one that is her own 'Case'. I find that Ms. Day has written two mysteries in one series...one mystery is Freemont and her life. The other is actually the mystery she or her partners/associate are trying to solve. As I leave this book her life is still a mystery. The case is solved in due time and always with a twist at the end. I recommend to you-Freemont Jones Mysteries. A word to the wise: Read them in order or you will miss part of the intrigue!
November 24, 2012
Not much of a mystery here and, as happens in the previous books of this series, Fremont jumps from one thing to the other in a way that sometimes does not make sense. Also, and I know that Michael is not the main character here, Fremont and michael's relationship is blurry, i.e. could be more developed imho. But, overall, a nice cozy read. The addition of Wish's mother as a character is, however, a nice touch and the character has potential (much as the secretary in the TV series Remington Steele, for instance). Again, I seem to be hooked to the series, so I will go on reading.
July 20, 2015
Another adventure for Fremont Jones. It is good to interact with her father again. It was a surprise what he does come to share with his daughter. I do wish I had some maps handy to view as I read these stories to get a feel for how San Francisco was laid out in the early 1900s. The introduction of Edna as an addition to their office added some humor. I do wonder if all subsequent stories in this series will end with Fremont getting into a possible fatal fix, and then getting herself out int he nick of time. Still an entraining and light read.
July 12, 2015
The fourth of the Fremont Jones books and I enjoyed it much more than the previous installment. There's just something about being back in San Francisco with Fremont and Michael. I enjoyed the plot, which had me guessing until the end. I do wish there had been more with Wish and his little sideplot. That would have made it fascinating.
November 30, 2014
Alas, the once delightful Fremont Jones series goes downhill as it goes on. Don't get me wrong - I adore Fremont & her complicated relationship w her mentor Michael is rather sweet. I just did not care for the hocus pocus focus of this 4th installment & I surely do miss the typewriting service business where detecting was incidental. Will press on w the last 2 volumes.
May 16, 2008
Fremont Jones is back in San Francisco and has opened a detective agency with her partner. The craze for spiritualism draws Fremont in when she attends a seance with a friend. Then two mediums are found murdered. Another good historical mystery set in the early 1900s.
May 11, 2016
Another great book in the "A Fremont Jones Mystery". Emperor Norton's Ghost was a little more gritty with the murder of two mediums. Fremont is back with Michael, partners in a private investigation agency in San Francisco. Great BOOK !
July 10, 2010
Another enjoyable period mystery.
September 27, 2010
not as good as several of her other novels, but still entertaining.
March 25, 2011
It's even better reading it in downtown San Francisco!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews