Coign of Vantage, Or, the Boston Athenaeum Murders

by John McAleer

Stated First Edition. Review copy with publisher's slips laid-in. A fine copy in a near fine dust jacket.

Genres: Mystery

273 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1988

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep your dictionary close. And make and maintain a list of characters and descriptions and inter-relations. Or read the book twice.

[Ralph · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an author not known for mysteries (he's written biographies, literary criticism and a novel set in the Korean War), John McAleer has produced a crackling good mystery with interesting characters, a background with a depth of history, and dialogue that is nothing less than electric. He also provides readers with just the protagonist needed for a first-person POV: intelligent, witty and very observant. He's also delivered a genre of mystery that I enjoy very much, where the sins of past generations catch up with the sinners of present generations, in this case the well-heeled and well-bred (and slightly inbred)Brahmans of Boston. This is a very literate and literary mystery sure to keep you guessing till the end.