Thicker Than Water

Quinn Parke Mystery #2

by Bruce Zimmerman

From Publishers Weekly — San Francisco's phobia therapist and amateur sleuth Quinn Parker, welcomed in Blood Under the Bridge , confirms his appeal in his second adventure. Quinn jets to Jamaica with his old friend, neophyte comedian and fearful flier Hank Wilkie; Hank's college friend and godfather to his son Matty, Marty Greene, recently killed in an apparent drug bust, has left his family's island estate to the boy. Hank declines what seems a meager offer to buy the prime land near Priest River, a town where violence, including ghostly visitations and police beatings, has driven down the price of real estate. Back in San Francisco, Quinn begins to fall in love with Greene's widow, Stephanie, at the same time learning that the huge resort her wealthy brother secretly planned near Priest River had been stalled by Greene's unwillingness to sell. As murders accrue in both Jamaica and San Francisco, Quinn returns to Priest River and is shot at in the jungle. He joins forces with a dreadlocked, UCLA-educated lawyer to discover just who has been terrorizing property owners and why. Making the most of both of his settings, fleshing out familiar characters as well as new ones, Zimmerman highlights a distinctive cast in a skillfully plotted and smartly paced mystery.

Genres: Mystery

350 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Bruce Zimmerman is a U.S. novelist, screenwriter, and television producer. Among the television series which Zimmerman has worked on are Desperate Housewives, CSI: NY, K-Ville, The District, Judging Amy, Reunion, So Weird, and Street Time. He has also written a number of movies for television, including the two "Inspectors" movies for Showtime.

Reviews

[Paul Close · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, nice atmosphere.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#2 Quinn Parker mystery's remote Jamaica locale appeals to me, as does the unusual lawyer. It is still an average easy to read, easy to forget, time killer. Time spent is not wasted - more like a day at the beach.

Quinn Parker jets to Jamaica with Hank Wilkie; Hank's friend and godfather to his son recently killed, has left his family's estate to the boy. Hank declines a meager offer to buy the land near Priest River, a town where violence has driven down the price of real estate. Quinn begins to fall for Greene's widow, Stephanie, also time learning that the resort her brother secretly planned had been stalled by Greene's unwillingness to sell. Quinn returns to Priest River and is shot at. He joins forces with a dreadlocked lawyer to discover who has been terrorizing property owners and why.

[Linda Underwood]

Fun book. Family is left a Jamaican prperty upon the death of a friend and suddenly their life is in danger. Mystery.