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Rachel Gold Mysteries #3
Firm Ambitions
When the sexy, conman owner of a popular St. Louis exercise studio dies suddenly of an overdose of cyanide-laced vitamins, attorney Rachel Gold investigates, only to find herself the target of a ruthless killer. Reprint.
- GenresMystery
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1994
9 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Michael A. Kahn
25 books44 followersPseudonym for Michael Baron.
Michael Kahn is a trial lawyer by day and an author at night. He wrote his first novel, GRAVE DESIGNS, on a challenge from his wife Margi, who got tired of listening to the same answer whenever she asked him about a book he was reading. "Not bad," he would say, "but I could write a better book than that." "Then write one," she finally said, "or please shut up." So he shut up for a few months--no easy task for an attorney--but finally wrote one.
Kahn is the award-winning author of 11 Rachel Gold novels, the most recent being BAD TRUST, and three stand-alone novels: the recently published PLAYED!, about which Library Journal wrote, "“Fans of quick reads . . . will be well served by this thriller’s fast pace"; THE SIRENA QUEST, which Publishers Weekly praised as “Equal parts rollicking adventure, existential and spiritual quest, and coming-of-(middle)-age tale”; and THE MOURNING SEXTON, a mystery novel under the pen name Michael Baron. His most recent Rachel Gold novel, THE DEAD HAND, was published last fall.
In addition to his day job as a lawyer, he is an adjunct professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, where he teaches a class on censorship and free expression. Married to his high school sweetheart, he is the father of five and the grandfather of, so far, five.
Michael Kahn is a trial lawyer by day and an author at night. He wrote his first novel, GRAVE DESIGNS, on a challenge from his wife Margi, who got tired of listening to the same answer whenever she asked him about a book he was reading. "Not bad," he would say, "but I could write a better book than that." "Then write one," she finally said, "or please shut up." So he shut up for a few months--no easy task for an attorney--but finally wrote one.
Kahn is the award-winning author of 11 Rachel Gold novels, the most recent being BAD TRUST, and three stand-alone novels: the recently published PLAYED!, about which Library Journal wrote, "“Fans of quick reads . . . will be well served by this thriller’s fast pace"; THE SIRENA QUEST, which Publishers Weekly praised as “Equal parts rollicking adventure, existential and spiritual quest, and coming-of-(middle)-age tale”; and THE MOURNING SEXTON, a mystery novel under the pen name Michael Baron. His most recent Rachel Gold novel, THE DEAD HAND, was published last fall.
In addition to his day job as a lawyer, he is an adjunct professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, where he teaches a class on censorship and free expression. Married to his high school sweetheart, he is the father of five and the grandfather of, so far, five.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 3, 2014
Hmmmm. How to describe the first chapter of this book. Rachel has moved to St. Louis where she has started a new firm. Her first client is, well, how shall we put this. The case involves a will, an irate wife, fellatio, Big Macs with special sauce, Golden Showers, Visa statements, and the threat of photographs. It’s also very funny.
Although she has sworn never to take another divorce case, Rachel is persuaded by Anne, her sister, to help Eileen Landau. As she soon learns, Eileen is having an affair with Andros, a local fitness instructor, otherwise spelled g.i.g.o.l.o. When Andros turns up dead in a hotel room where he and Eileen were having a tryst and Eileen admits she skipped after watching him in the throes of being poisoned, Rachel knows she has a problem, especially since Eileen took along Andros’s briefcase that contained some rather explicit pictures of the two of them. But it turns out that Rachel’s sister is also in a photo album kept by the dead man and she is charged with his murder.
Rachel’s investigation begins to turn up all sorts of complications. Good mystery. Light on the legal side. Benny continues to amuse and delight. To wit: (pun intended)
“Probably because normal people believe that a bowel movement is a private act,” I said.
Benny clicked off the flashlight and closed his book. “And sex isn’t?”
“Yeah, but sex sells books.”
“I’m not just talking hot-sex junk fiction,” he said. “I’m talking front page of the New York Times Book Review fiction. I’m talking Saul Bellow, Philip Roth, John Updike, Alice Hoffman. You’ve got people shtupping like crazy in those books. Blow jobs, hand jobs, rim jobs—you name it.”
I shrugged. “Maybe the authors think that a sexual encounter is a way to reveal something about a character’s personality.”
He gave me an astounded look. “And taking a dump isn’t?”
Although she has sworn never to take another divorce case, Rachel is persuaded by Anne, her sister, to help Eileen Landau. As she soon learns, Eileen is having an affair with Andros, a local fitness instructor, otherwise spelled g.i.g.o.l.o. When Andros turns up dead in a hotel room where he and Eileen were having a tryst and Eileen admits she skipped after watching him in the throes of being poisoned, Rachel knows she has a problem, especially since Eileen took along Andros’s briefcase that contained some rather explicit pictures of the two of them. But it turns out that Rachel’s sister is also in a photo album kept by the dead man and she is charged with his murder.
Rachel’s investigation begins to turn up all sorts of complications. Good mystery. Light on the legal side. Benny continues to amuse and delight. To wit: (pun intended)
“Probably because normal people believe that a bowel movement is a private act,” I said.
Benny clicked off the flashlight and closed his book. “And sex isn’t?”
“Yeah, but sex sells books.”
“I’m not just talking hot-sex junk fiction,” he said. “I’m talking front page of the New York Times Book Review fiction. I’m talking Saul Bellow, Philip Roth, John Updike, Alice Hoffman. You’ve got people shtupping like crazy in those books. Blow jobs, hand jobs, rim jobs—you name it.”
I shrugged. “Maybe the authors think that a sexual encounter is a way to reveal something about a character’s personality.”
He gave me an astounded look. “And taking a dump isn’t?”
March 1, 2012
This is not the type of book I would typically read, but years ago I worked with the author at SMF. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for years. This week I needed somethig quick and easy and this one fit the bill.
Reading the book was like eating Imo's pizza followed by a trip to Ted Drewes. It will fill you up but maybe not in the best way. The story is set in St. Louis, specifically the St. Louis Jewish community, so if you live in St. Louis or have ever lived in St. Louis you will find this an entertaining read. It's sort of fun to know where all the action is happening. Readers outside St. Louis will have no idea what Vic-Tanny is or understand the cachet of shopping at the Ladue-Crossing Schnucks. The not so fun part was that the story stereotypes certain parts of town. Ladue homes are clean. Dogtown is where slobs live. Smart quirky guys who are not dating material live in the CWE. Bad guys live on the east side. Nevertheless, for any St. Louis reader this will be a good time!
The writing is engaging and the story was thrilling. Although it can be a little sleazy at times. It's an action packed page turner. I just wish the cat - the Persian cat - didn't have to suffer. That was a little over the top and unsettling for Persian lover like myself. Still a fun read all in all.
If I find more books in the Rachel Gold series...yeah, I'll pick them up. We all need a little Imo's from time to time.
Reading the book was like eating Imo's pizza followed by a trip to Ted Drewes. It will fill you up but maybe not in the best way. The story is set in St. Louis, specifically the St. Louis Jewish community, so if you live in St. Louis or have ever lived in St. Louis you will find this an entertaining read. It's sort of fun to know where all the action is happening. Readers outside St. Louis will have no idea what Vic-Tanny is or understand the cachet of shopping at the Ladue-Crossing Schnucks. The not so fun part was that the story stereotypes certain parts of town. Ladue homes are clean. Dogtown is where slobs live. Smart quirky guys who are not dating material live in the CWE. Bad guys live on the east side. Nevertheless, for any St. Louis reader this will be a good time!
The writing is engaging and the story was thrilling. Although it can be a little sleazy at times. It's an action packed page turner. I just wish the cat - the Persian cat - didn't have to suffer. That was a little over the top and unsettling for Persian lover like myself. Still a fun read all in all.
If I find more books in the Rachel Gold series...yeah, I'll pick them up. We all need a little Imo's from time to time.
August 15, 2008
FIRM AMBITIONS - VG
Kahn, Michael - 4th in Rachel Gold series
Attorney Rachel Gold didn't expect her very last divorce case to land her at a chic health club full of rich, bored wives who find Andros, its fitness trainer, irresistible. But savvy Rachel can spot a con man when she sees this one, with his buns of steel and body to die for. Unfortunately for the love-starved ladies, he's the one who dies, suddenly of cyanide-laced vitamins. So who wanted God's gift to women to burn in hell?
Rachel suspects there's more to this case than meets anyone's erogenous zone. Jumping into the fray with her usual artillery of charm, smarts, and unbelievable chutzpah, Rachel chases clues and an assortment of evil lowlifes, who by hook or crook—and homicide—keep reminding her that one dead body can easily lead to another—hers. This suspenseful, exhilarating crime novel will hold you to the last page.
This is a very enjoyable series.
Kahn, Michael - 4th in Rachel Gold series
Attorney Rachel Gold didn't expect her very last divorce case to land her at a chic health club full of rich, bored wives who find Andros, its fitness trainer, irresistible. But savvy Rachel can spot a con man when she sees this one, with his buns of steel and body to die for. Unfortunately for the love-starved ladies, he's the one who dies, suddenly of cyanide-laced vitamins. So who wanted God's gift to women to burn in hell?
Rachel suspects there's more to this case than meets anyone's erogenous zone. Jumping into the fray with her usual artillery of charm, smarts, and unbelievable chutzpah, Rachel chases clues and an assortment of evil lowlifes, who by hook or crook—and homicide—keep reminding her that one dead body can easily lead to another—hers. This suspenseful, exhilarating crime novel will hold you to the last page.
This is a very enjoyable series.
August 25, 2013
This is another in the unambitious, slightly charming, St. Louis-based Rachel Gold mysteries. I've read three of them now, and here's how they work:
1) Rachel gets an odd case.
2) Case ties in with a bigger case.
3) Rachel and her posse decide to be detectives instead of hiring an actual detective.
4) Rachel wins, after narrowly escaping death.
The stories are light, easy to read, have lots of St. Louis character, and fail to explain why a Harvard Law School graduate would be able to lure her law professor buddy into doing dangerous stuff. But, hey, that's why these are called "mysteries," right?
I would classify this as a "popcorn" book. It is fast, satisfies the immediate need for gratification, and doesn't fill you up.
1) Rachel gets an odd case.
2) Case ties in with a bigger case.
3) Rachel and her posse decide to be detectives instead of hiring an actual detective.
4) Rachel wins, after narrowly escaping death.
The stories are light, easy to read, have lots of St. Louis character, and fail to explain why a Harvard Law School graduate would be able to lure her law professor buddy into doing dangerous stuff. But, hey, that's why these are called "mysteries," right?
I would classify this as a "popcorn" book. It is fast, satisfies the immediate need for gratification, and doesn't fill you up.
April 28, 2014
This one is about 20 years old, hence our lawyer heroine must cope with a world sans cell phones and google. Yet it doesn't feel dated except for the technology.
Not sure why the male writer has a female protag. and some of her comments and sentiments rang pretty "tough male" to me. Still, an entertaining read with some polish and I'm looking for her, uh, his next one.
This one I got from the library was a paperback, well reinforced with tape, but the pages were a bit fragile. Let's see what the next one is like...
Not sure why the male writer has a female protag. and some of her comments and sentiments rang pretty "tough male" to me. Still, an entertaining read with some polish and I'm looking for her, uh, his next one.
This one I got from the library was a paperback, well reinforced with tape, but the pages were a bit fragile. Let's see what the next one is like...
June 27, 2015
Finished 07/14/2013. Rachel is invited to an aerobics class by her sister Ann. R. has moved back to St. Louis and is living with her mother after her father's death. The xercise instructor is murdered and Ann is charged with the murder. Turns out she was having an affair with him, but so were about 30 others who had been receiving home instruction. But R. finds that his home visits have been to case the house for burglars by passing on the security and items of value. Mom (Sarah) starts dating again but assists R. with the investigations along with Benny. Rated as 4.5 stars at DBRL.
June 26, 2014
I may get tired of this series at some point, but this was my third & I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot moved with sufficient speed to keep me engaged & I love the principals and their teamwork. The Rachel & Benny interactions are often raw & very funny...I enjoy them for the same reasons I like Janet Evanovich's team of Stephanie & Lulu...bigger than life & ready to plunge into weird adventures that would be too daunting for ordinary humans.
August 29, 2015
First time reading a book from this series. Highly entertaining. Be warned: sexual content.
July 16, 2012
moves fast. I might try others in the series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews