What do you think?
Rate this book
Rachel Gold Mysteries #1
Grave Designs
Rachael Gold, a lawyer, is hired to investigate a mysterious forty thousand dollar trust fund set up to maintain the grave of an unknown pet named Canaan
Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1988
84 people are currently reading
206 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 19, 2016
This is a light entertainment that no one will take very seriously with a plucky heroine and an amusing supporting cast.
Rachel Gold once worked for the huge law firm of Abbot & Windsor in Chicago, but decided to go out on her own. She's happy in her own small practice, but is then asked to look into a matter by the managing partner of her old firm. One of the senior partners, Graham Anderson Marshall III has just died, allegedly at his desk but actually in the apartment of a high-priced call girl where he was wrapped up on some sort of leather outfit.
It turns out that the late Mr. Marshall had added a very strange codicil to his will, providing $40,000 in trust for the maintenance of a grave at a local pet cemetery. Oddly, Marshall never owned any pets and apparently never knew anyone who did. The managing partner is baffled and wants Rachel to quietly check into the matter to see what is actually buried in the grave.
Inevitably, someone beats her to it and steals the coffin from the grave before Rachel can get to it. This poses a serious problem for Rachel and for Maggie Sullivan, the woman who owns the pet cemetery. Sullivan is hoping to land the funeral and burial for a hippo who has just recently died at a local zoo and is worried that the bad publicity from the stolen coffin could nix her chances. (This will give you some idea of the general tenor of the book.)
At any rate, Rachel soldiers on and finds herself in the middle of a very complex and dangerous situation. There's a somewhat wacky supporting cast, including the hooker in whose arms Graham Marshall expired. There's the requisite hunky boyfriend who has betrayed Rachel and is trying to worm his way back into her good graces, not to mention her bed. All this leads to a very convoluted ending which climaxes at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium.
This is one of those books that leaves me somewhat at odds with myself. Michael A. Kahn has written a book that will appeal to a large number of readers who enjoy novels like this, and I can appreciate that he has done a very good job of it. On the other hand, this is not the sort of novel that normally appeals to me and I would not have read it save for the fact that one of my book clubs picked it for this month. And while I don't regret having read it, I doubt that I will be following the misadventures of Rachel Gold any farther.
Rachel Gold once worked for the huge law firm of Abbot & Windsor in Chicago, but decided to go out on her own. She's happy in her own small practice, but is then asked to look into a matter by the managing partner of her old firm. One of the senior partners, Graham Anderson Marshall III has just died, allegedly at his desk but actually in the apartment of a high-priced call girl where he was wrapped up on some sort of leather outfit.
It turns out that the late Mr. Marshall had added a very strange codicil to his will, providing $40,000 in trust for the maintenance of a grave at a local pet cemetery. Oddly, Marshall never owned any pets and apparently never knew anyone who did. The managing partner is baffled and wants Rachel to quietly check into the matter to see what is actually buried in the grave.
Inevitably, someone beats her to it and steals the coffin from the grave before Rachel can get to it. This poses a serious problem for Rachel and for Maggie Sullivan, the woman who owns the pet cemetery. Sullivan is hoping to land the funeral and burial for a hippo who has just recently died at a local zoo and is worried that the bad publicity from the stolen coffin could nix her chances. (This will give you some idea of the general tenor of the book.)
At any rate, Rachel soldiers on and finds herself in the middle of a very complex and dangerous situation. There's a somewhat wacky supporting cast, including the hooker in whose arms Graham Marshall expired. There's the requisite hunky boyfriend who has betrayed Rachel and is trying to worm his way back into her good graces, not to mention her bed. All this leads to a very convoluted ending which climaxes at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium.
This is one of those books that leaves me somewhat at odds with myself. Michael A. Kahn has written a book that will appeal to a large number of readers who enjoy novels like this, and I can appreciate that he has done a very good job of it. On the other hand, this is not the sort of novel that normally appeals to me and I would not have read it save for the fact that one of my book clubs picked it for this month. And while I don't regret having read it, I doubt that I will be following the misadventures of Rachel Gold any farther.
March 28, 2014
Rachel is hired by the managing partner of her old firm to find out who or what is "Canaan." At issue is the execution the will of a recently deceased (he died in flagrante) partner in the firm who had added a bizarre codicil to his will two years earlier. This addition provided for the maintenance of Canaan's grave, which happened to be in a pet cemetery, yet to the best of everyone's knowledge, he had never owned a pet.
Kahn has woven an intriguing plot related to a book written by someone who had attended Barrett College that purports to relate the story of a lottery in a town that ceased to exist. The story flows well and keeps the pages turning. My only quibble was Paul, Rachel’s erstwhile ex-boyfriend who happens along at a convenient time with a copy of the book (he was a Barrett graduate, also) even though his knowledge of it is explained adequately. I had hoped for a more satisfactory ending that might have involved some legal shenanigans rather than a moray eel. But it's Kahn's first and the legal end becomes more pronounced in later volumes.
Much like another of Kahn’s stories, this one also has a code as its key. It was hard to believe this was the first book by Kahn. Having read a couple out of order, I’m now going to read them all in the proper sequence. In this book, Rachel is still in Chicago, Benny has just been hired to teach, but Ozzie is still a presence.
Kahn has woven an intriguing plot related to a book written by someone who had attended Barrett College that purports to relate the story of a lottery in a town that ceased to exist. The story flows well and keeps the pages turning. My only quibble was Paul, Rachel’s erstwhile ex-boyfriend who happens along at a convenient time with a copy of the book (he was a Barrett graduate, also) even though his knowledge of it is explained adequately. I had hoped for a more satisfactory ending that might have involved some legal shenanigans rather than a moray eel. But it's Kahn's first and the legal end becomes more pronounced in later volumes.
Much like another of Kahn’s stories, this one also has a code as its key. It was hard to believe this was the first book by Kahn. Having read a couple out of order, I’m now going to read them all in the proper sequence. In this book, Rachel is still in Chicago, Benny has just been hired to teach, but Ozzie is still a presence.
December 20, 2020
I hadn't re-read this for ages, and had almost forgotten what an enjoyable protagonist Rachel Gold is. A lawyer who left a big firm to start off on her own (and doing very nicely, thank you), Rachel is asked to help with a mysterious codicil to her former boss's will after his untimely death. Why would a man who never owned a pet leave money to a pet cemetery to care for the grave of something called "Canaan"? Strange clues--including a dead hippo!--and some help from a colorful cast of Rachel's friends and some new acquaintances lead to a startling and dangerous confrontation--and does Kahn have an unpleasant death planned for his villain! In later episodes, Rachel moves back to her home town, St. Louis.
June 4, 2020
I can’t remember where I learned of this cozy mystery series but I’m hooked on this first book and will hunt down the rest of the books in the series. Set in Chicago and featuring St. Louis born attorney Rachel Gold, GRAVE DESIGNS is perfect for anyone who binged on TV shows like Suits or LA Law. Written and taking place in the late 1980s to early 1990s, the book is a tad dated. But if you understand that this is the setting, it’s a treasure of a flashback to attorneys pouring over piles of printed files, no cell phones and newspapers on microfiche. Any Chicago or St. Louis fan will especially love the various references, including Rachel’s dog named after Ozzie Smith.
October 6, 2021
This one will keep you guessing!
When an inveterate, indiscriminate reader of mysteries, thrillers, and suspense comes across a new-to-her author with a sizeable back catalog, is akin to finding buried treasure.
Kahn pairs legal know-how with well-rounded characters to come up with a cast that invites to settle in. He adds to that an imaginative storyline that's thick with twists and surprises.
Grave Designs left me in awe at some of the developments his characters faced; I read every word avidly, eager to see what was around the next bend. Pick it up, I guarantee you'll read it in one sitting, as I did.
When an inveterate, indiscriminate reader of mysteries, thrillers, and suspense comes across a new-to-her author with a sizeable back catalog, is akin to finding buried treasure.
Kahn pairs legal know-how with well-rounded characters to come up with a cast that invites to settle in. He adds to that an imaginative storyline that's thick with twists and surprises.
Grave Designs left me in awe at some of the developments his characters faced; I read every word avidly, eager to see what was around the next bend. Pick it up, I guarantee you'll read it in one sitting, as I did.
December 9, 2021
Great legal thriller
Good mystery that kept you guessing until the end. Sometimes it was a little confusing when trying to explain the Canaan conspiracy. It still was an interesting read.
Good mystery that kept you guessing until the end. Sometimes it was a little confusing when trying to explain the Canaan conspiracy. It still was an interesting read.
April 22, 2023
Michael A. Kahn is a master story teller. Great Chicago detail though a little heavy on the love for the St. Louis Cardinals. A perfect mystery to curl up with in Dublin on a rainy day. Can’t wait to see what Rachel Gold is up to next!
November 5, 2023
This is a real throw back book that my book club chose as one person read this mystery series years ago and liked it. This book is the first in the series and takes place in Chicago with some fun St. Louis mentions too.
This cozy mystery was a quick and easy read that kept me entertained. I liked the main character and her personality. This book kinda was a cross of The Firm and the Stephanie Plum - Janet Evanovich series. I would definitely read the next book in this series
This cozy mystery was a quick and easy read that kept me entertained. I liked the main character and her personality. This book kinda was a cross of The Firm and the Stephanie Plum - Janet Evanovich series. I would definitely read the next book in this series
April 13, 2020
This was a quick read. Fun mystery. I liked the main character. I liked that is was set in Chicago. I could relate to the areas and places that were referenced. I would read another book by this author.
August 30, 2017
3.5 stars
September 4, 2019
Rachel Gold is asked to investigate the codicil of Graham Marshall. He has left money for the maintenance of a pet cemetery plot even though he never had a pet. So what is really buried there?
Read
March 19, 2020Nook Free Friday
March 25, 2020
Fun characters, but I had to stretch my suspension of disbelief. Good for a quick read. Handled the sexual content very well.
March 31, 2020
This was a fun book to read. The plot was interesting and keeps you guessing.
April 1, 2020
It started off so well. It became a chore halfway thru. Another NOOK Free Friday failure!
April 18, 2020
Everyone needs a Benny Goldstein in their camp.
April 27, 2020
A good starter for a series. Usually skeptical of free books but this one paid off.
August 5, 2020
A suspenseful storyline. Good read.
September 6, 2020
Good mystery to the very end!
I think I've got a new mystery series! I guessed 3 or 4 different bad guys before the last chapter! Fun reading!
I think I've got a new mystery series! I guessed 3 or 4 different bad guys before the last chapter! Fun reading!
May 20, 2025
Fun thriller
Kept me captivated and well entertained. Crazy plot twists with well developed characters, I am hooked on the series!! Enjoy.
Kept me captivated and well entertained. Crazy plot twists with well developed characters, I am hooked on the series!! Enjoy.
January 2, 2017
Where this book was good it was pretty good, but then there was the rest of it.
The biggest problem I had with this book is that it was probably written in the mid-eighties, but I couldn't tell what timeframe it was meant to take place in. (I think maybe 2001?) Anyway, it was a terribly outdated story to have a publishing year of 2015.
The procedures in this book predate even desktop PCs and pagers. I mean, Rachel uses a pay phone to call into her office for messages. Certain events rely on the personals column in several newspapers. Libraries are the ultimate source of information. The most computer-savvy lawyer has a green-screen mainframe terminal on his desk! I'm sorry but, the world just doesn't work like this any more. And it didn't even in 2001 -- when cell phones and laptops were already in use, the internet and email existed, and life was just more automated in general. (Oh, and the last production year for the Chevy Nova was 1988. Couldn't the author have updated Benny's car to something more contemporary?)
Another big problem I had was with a male author trying to write as a female and getting it very wrong sometimes. Like two women slapping each other on the back as they part company, describing men by their football prowess (women don't assess men on those terms), and two women spending the evening together watching sports on TV. Okay, I guess those things might happen, but in general they come across more as masculine behaviors projected onto women. (Also, towards the end of the book a choice is made regarding a dropoff location that a woman would never make. Because, far from being infrequently used, as the male author imagines, it's actually pretty frequently used for its designated purpose! So um, ew.)
Unfortunately, the very worst parts of this book for me were the unnecessarily detailed descriptions of a sexual nature. Actually, intimate sex was never described, but the results of transactions with a prostitute, and some particularly egregious lewd behaviour left very little to the imagination. Ugh!
The good parts of the book reminded me a lot of Robert B. Parker's work, and if you like that author you will probably like these books too. Otherwise, I can only recommend these books to someone who doesn't mind reading a mystery involving occasional sordid sex in a world without modern information technology.
The biggest problem I had with this book is that it was probably written in the mid-eighties, but I couldn't tell what timeframe it was meant to take place in. (I think maybe 2001?) Anyway, it was a terribly outdated story to have a publishing year of 2015.
The procedures in this book predate even desktop PCs and pagers. I mean, Rachel uses a pay phone to call into her office for messages. Certain events rely on the personals column in several newspapers. Libraries are the ultimate source of information. The most computer-savvy lawyer has a green-screen mainframe terminal on his desk! I'm sorry but, the world just doesn't work like this any more. And it didn't even in 2001 -- when cell phones and laptops were already in use, the internet and email existed, and life was just more automated in general. (Oh, and the last production year for the Chevy Nova was 1988. Couldn't the author have updated Benny's car to something more contemporary?)
Another big problem I had was with a male author trying to write as a female and getting it very wrong sometimes. Like two women slapping each other on the back as they part company, describing men by their football prowess (women don't assess men on those terms), and two women spending the evening together watching sports on TV. Okay, I guess those things might happen, but in general they come across more as masculine behaviors projected onto women. (Also, towards the end of the book a choice is made regarding a dropoff location that a woman would never make. Because, far from being infrequently used, as the male author imagines, it's actually pretty frequently used for its designated purpose! So um, ew.)
Unfortunately, the very worst parts of this book for me were the unnecessarily detailed descriptions of a sexual nature. Actually, intimate sex was never described, but the results of transactions with a prostitute, and some particularly egregious lewd behaviour left very little to the imagination. Ugh!
The good parts of the book reminded me a lot of Robert B. Parker's work, and if you like that author you will probably like these books too. Otherwise, I can only recommend these books to someone who doesn't mind reading a mystery involving occasional sordid sex in a world without modern information technology.
March 17, 2020
Interesting mystery and engaging characters. I figured out early who the bad guy would be (though not why) and what certain events had to do with Canaan, but rather enjoyed the journey. Didn't need the Big Standoff at the end, though. And there was sort of a mismatch between theme and genre; it seemed like Kahn wanted to be Nathaniel Hawthorne, but changed his mind.
It's increasingly odd to read something apparently set now, but written before cell phones. I'm old enough to automatically bridge the electronic divide, but I wonder how long people will read the older books.
It's increasingly odd to read something apparently set now, but written before cell phones. I'm old enough to automatically bridge the electronic divide, but I wonder how long people will read the older books.
October 4, 2020
I wanted to like this but there was something off about it.
I can't tell if it was the fact that Rachel Gold did very little lawyering and a lot of investigating, or if the case she was working on was so bizarre I could not buy into it.
There was also a point where she did not think/act like a female (but I forgot to mark it so I could give an example).
I will read another in this series and see if these oddities persist.
I bought a copy of this because it is not available from my public library.
I can't tell if it was the fact that Rachel Gold did very little lawyering and a lot of investigating, or if the case she was working on was so bizarre I could not buy into it.
There was also a point where she did not think/act like a female (but I forgot to mark it so I could give an example).
I will read another in this series and see if these oddities persist.
I bought a copy of this because it is not available from my public library.
August 30, 2008
What a pleasant surprise!
The book is well-written, lively, and inventive. It's about a lawyer who dies and leaves a weird codicil in his will to provide for perpetual upkeep of a grave in a pet cemetary. Except he never had a pet that anyone was aware of.
The epilogue was a little obvious, but otherwise, a solid read.
The book is well-written, lively, and inventive. It's about a lawyer who dies and leaves a weird codicil in his will to provide for perpetual upkeep of a grave in a pet cemetary. Except he never had a pet that anyone was aware of.
The epilogue was a little obvious, but otherwise, a solid read.
January 26, 2013
I picked up this book because I had read somewhere that the author is a lawyer in St. Louis. Note: The book is actually set in Chicago.
The storyline and characters were interesting, for the most part. I could have done without many of the descriptions.
The storyline and characters were interesting, for the most part. I could have done without many of the descriptions.
May 4, 2014
4 stars for sheer entertainment and fun, although the ending was pretty over the top. Gutsy female lead in the form of lawyer Rachel Gold unravels a legal mystery with brains and humor and the help of some offbeat friends.
July 6, 2008
GRAVE DESIGNS - VG
Kahn, Michael A. - 1st in series
Attorney Rachael Gold, set in Chicago and St. Louis. A very enjoyable read.
Kahn, Michael A. - 1st in series
Attorney Rachael Gold, set in Chicago and St. Louis. A very enjoyable read.
Read
April 13, 2016like this series very much . want to read all of the Rachel Gold series
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews