Meriwether Murder

Alan Graham Mysteries #2

by Malcolm Shuman

From its laid-back cities and sleepy towns along the Mississippi to its picturesque yet treacherous bayous, Louisiana is a place rich in history -- and history is Alan Graham's business. A contract archaeologist located in Baton Rouge, Dr. Graham butts heads with developers who want to recklessly rip apart Louisiana's landscape for their own greedy purposes. During an exploration of decaying Desiree Plantation, Alan Graham comes across a tombstone labeled simply "Louis". His curiosity piqued, Alan ascertains that Louis may actually be the great 19th-century explorer Meriwether Lewis. But mysterious threats and murderous intrigue make a search into the past a desperate attempt to stop a contemporary killer.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

262 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

About the author

AKA M.S. Karl and M.K. Shuman

Born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1941, Malcolm Shuman grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was educated at Louisiana State University, which awarded him a B.A. in 1962 in the fields of geography & anthropology. Shuman then had the privilege of serving in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1966 where, as a member of the military police, he was assigned to Sandia Base New Mexico, with a Top Secret security clearance.

Series:
* Alan Graham Mysteries

Reviews

[Virginia Kessen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually this would be a 4 star book for me. It's a well-done examination of the end of Meriweather Lewis' life but even though I live near the Trace and the monument to Lewis, the exploration of those events could have used a little editing in my mind. The biggest issue I had with the book was even though it's only 6 years old, there was a casual condescension to POC and women that bothered me.

[Erin Becker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh! This one took a nosedive from its predecessor. The murderer doesn't make any sense. I actually said "what?"out loud at the reveal. Rookie move of making the vllian mentally ill. COMPLETELY gratuitous use of the n-word (in passing by a one scene character with no name). The mystery makes no sense either. The characters are meant to be highly educated scientists and yet they accept as evidence the most completely absurd things (there was a red haired man living with the "indians" therefore it just be Meriwether Lewis). It was SO BAD. I almost didn't read the last 20 pages. SO BAD!!!

[Mhd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded up to get to 3-stars. An ok book. The history was interesting but all the optional possibilities surrounding Lewis's death got rather confusing. I guess nothing was ever as easy or clear as I thought: another of life's mysteries where we'll never know the "truth." Some interesting characters in this book but did have to force myself to read parts of it, especially in the middle where is seemed especially slow.
[picked this one up at used bookstore because it had a Gorey-like image on the cover and a blurb by Aaron Elkins...had to give it a try!]

[Patricia Mccammon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who was he

From the history of Lewis and Clark, a modern mystery. From an attempted murder over 100 years ago to murder today, the discoveries keep you guessing. Why kill someone today based on journals from yesterday.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good. I enjoyed it.