Paper Chase

Jesse Falkenstein #7

by Dell Shannon

Lawyer Jesse Falkenstein thought his secretary Miss Williams was a remarkably efficient typist, but he felt she had drawbacks as a legal secretary. She had an earnest face, unfashionable tight curls and she irritated him very much. Jesse wished he could fire her.

But she'd been his secretary for nine years, so even when, on a particularly busy day, she called to say that an urgent matter would keep her away from the office, Jesse didn't fire her. He also didn't realise how urgent the matter was until it was almost too late . . .

'My favourite American crime-writer' New York Herald Tribune

Genres: Mystery

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Pseudonym of Elizabeth Linington.

Barbara "Elizabeth" Linington (March 11, 1921 – April 5, 1988) was an American novelist. She was awarded runner-up scrolls for best first mystery novel from the Mystery Writers of America for her 1960 novel, Case Pending, which introduced her most popular series character, LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Luis Mendoza. Her 1961 book, Nightmare, and her 1962 novel, Knave of Hearts, another entry in the Mendoza series, were both nominated for Edgars in the Best Novel category. Regarded as the "Queen of the Procedurals," she was one of the first women to write police procedurals — a male-dominated genre of police-story writing.

Besides crime, Linington also took interest in archaeology, the occult, gemstones, antique weapons and languages. Linington was also a conservative political activist who was an active member of the John Birch Society

Reviews

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Low key, enjoyable mystery with a bit of humor set in Los Angeles. Features a police detective sergeant, his lawyer brother-in-law and a Sherlock Holmes type helper who solve the mysteries. Story revolves around two mysteries: the murder of the lawyer's unappreciated secretary who turns out to be much more than he suspected and a person who has been kidnapping, robbing and beating up up middle aged women and dumping them some where. The best character in the story who steals the story is Sally.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun detective/mystery written in 1972. The story line was fast paced, but what I liked most about the book was the difference in police/detective procedure 43 years ago compared with today.