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Jesse Falkenstein #11
The miser
Old Vandeveer is an odd client for the famous Jesse Falkenstein; dressed head to toe in shabby clothes it seems like he can hardly afford Jesse's standard fee to draw up a will. But when he and his wife are murdered a few weeks later, Falkenstein is launched on an intricate search for a fortune the old man has hidden away. The miser's long-suffering daughter is the immediate suspect, but in an effort to clear her name, Jesse discovers a tale of sharp business deals, blackmail, pornography, a questionable legal marriage and murder.
- GenresMystery
182 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
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March 21, 2020
Six years after drawing up a will for old man Vanderveer, Jesse Falkenstein receives a call from the aged fellow for another appointment. but he fails to keep the date. And when Jesse calls to enquire why, a policeman answers the phone. Vanderveer and his invalid wife were found murdered, apparent victim's of a break-in at their cottage in a fading area of Los Angeles.
Jesse begins the work of settling the estate, but quickly runs into problems--the old man was a cagey, secretive fellow, and his financial records supply more questions than answers. Then Jesse gets another unpleasant surprise--the police have determined someone deliberately planned the deaths of the couple, and are arresting Vanderveer's daughter Dulcie for the crime.
As Jesse keeps up the hunt for Vanderveer's missing fortune, with a little help from an eager IRS man, he grows certain that Dulcie didn't commit the crime, despite very positive witnesses and the probability an insider would have had to do the deed. But who else could have known the Vanderveer's habits and where to find Mrs. Vanderveer's pain pills? Who would they have trusted to make the drinks that held the drugs found in their systems? One thing becomes obvious as Jesse investigates: Vanderveer was an nasty old man with enemies aplenty.
Warning to people who enjoy a fast pace and lots of action--Lesley Egan seldom writes that sort of book. This is a classic procedural mystery, with lots of legwork and evidence-collecting. And you'll still not see the villain until the author chooses to reveal it.
Jesse begins the work of settling the estate, but quickly runs into problems--the old man was a cagey, secretive fellow, and his financial records supply more questions than answers. Then Jesse gets another unpleasant surprise--the police have determined someone deliberately planned the deaths of the couple, and are arresting Vanderveer's daughter Dulcie for the crime.
As Jesse keeps up the hunt for Vanderveer's missing fortune, with a little help from an eager IRS man, he grows certain that Dulcie didn't commit the crime, despite very positive witnesses and the probability an insider would have had to do the deed. But who else could have known the Vanderveer's habits and where to find Mrs. Vanderveer's pain pills? Who would they have trusted to make the drinks that held the drugs found in their systems? One thing becomes obvious as Jesse investigates: Vanderveer was an nasty old man with enemies aplenty.
Warning to people who enjoy a fast pace and lots of action--Lesley Egan seldom writes that sort of book. This is a classic procedural mystery, with lots of legwork and evidence-collecting. And you'll still not see the villain until the author chooses to reveal it.
Displaying 1 of 1 review