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Quint McCauley #1
Murder in Store
Eager to learn the identity of the person sending him death threats, businessman Preston Hauser hires Quint McCauley, who doggedly pursues the case even after Hauser is offed
241 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
About the author
D.C. Brod
14 books12 followersDC Brod, author of Getting Lucky, has written fiction most of her life, but didn't think she had a novel in her until she graduated from Nothern Illinois University with an MA in journalism. It was then that she decided if she could spend 120 pages discussing postal oppression of the radical press, she could write a novel. She was right.
"Caper fans will relish Brod's offbeat stand-alone thriller. Illinois freelance writer Robyn Guthrie can no longer afford to keep her elderly mother, Lizzie, in an assisted living facility. Desperate to come up with the cash somehow, Robyn considers a variety of illegal acts. In the end, she seeks to kill two birds with one stone by trying to retrieve a large amount of Lizzie's savings that were lost in a real estate scam from the con man responsible, Bull Severn. Fortunately, Robyn's shady accountant, ex-jockey Mick Hughes, has access to Bull and, more importantly, to Bull's prize possession, a racehorse called Bull's Blood. Mick, who has financial troubles of his own, takes seriously Robyn's half-baked notion of holding Sassy, a goat to whom Bull's Blood is emotionally attached, for ransom. Brod (Heartstone) expertly blends suspenseful action with characters readers will care for, in particular her sympathetic and plausible lead."
-- Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
". . . In the end, though, what stands out most is the surprisingly affecting portrait of a woman caught in the midst of a parent's sad but sure mental decline."
-- Booklist
"Brod expertly blends suspenseful action with characters readers will care for, in particular the sympathetic and plausible lead."
-- Publishers Weekly on Getting Sassy
"Caper fans will relish Brod's offbeat stand-alone thriller. Illinois freelance writer Robyn Guthrie can no longer afford to keep her elderly mother, Lizzie, in an assisted living facility. Desperate to come up with the cash somehow, Robyn considers a variety of illegal acts. In the end, she seeks to kill two birds with one stone by trying to retrieve a large amount of Lizzie's savings that were lost in a real estate scam from the con man responsible, Bull Severn. Fortunately, Robyn's shady accountant, ex-jockey Mick Hughes, has access to Bull and, more importantly, to Bull's prize possession, a racehorse called Bull's Blood. Mick, who has financial troubles of his own, takes seriously Robyn's half-baked notion of holding Sassy, a goat to whom Bull's Blood is emotionally attached, for ransom. Brod (Heartstone) expertly blends suspenseful action with characters readers will care for, in particular her sympathetic and plausible lead."
-- Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
". . . In the end, though, what stands out most is the surprisingly affecting portrait of a woman caught in the midst of a parent's sad but sure mental decline."
-- Booklist
"Brod expertly blends suspenseful action with characters readers will care for, in particular the sympathetic and plausible lead."
-- Publishers Weekly on Getting Sassy
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 9, 2016
3.5 stars
This book caught me by surprise. It has been on my TBR for years. Glad I read it.
Quintus McCauley is a former police officer who now does security at a high end department store in Chicago. His boss asks him to look into some letters he's got.
I liked that the protagonist is a male. Quint was a very likeable character. He's level headed and doesn't get upset even when people accuse him of murder. He has a way getting information out of people without coming off as a douche.
The story moved along quite quickly. Even though it wasn't a thriller it kept your interest. I will probably read more in the series.
This book caught me by surprise. It has been on my TBR for years. Glad I read it.
Quintus McCauley is a former police officer who now does security at a high end department store in Chicago. His boss asks him to look into some letters he's got.
I liked that the protagonist is a male. Quint was a very likeable character. He's level headed and doesn't get upset even when people accuse him of murder. He has a way getting information out of people without coming off as a douche.
The story moved along quite quickly. Even though it wasn't a thriller it kept your interest. I will probably read more in the series.
January 14, 2015
Lets start with the detective. Middle-aged, a touch cynical, not very successful (he is a detective, right?), not bad with the one-liners, ladies like him and he is kind of a likeable kind of guy. Let me add, not to serious, not particularly ambitious, willing to admit his mistakes, loyal. (If you were a dog or cat you would want this guy to own you.) So what's unusual about him? Well for one thing he is a Department Store detective and this story takes place in modern times.
Other characters, trusty female sidekick after chance encounter and mild sex (Well, the description anyway, I wasn't there, but they seemed to like it.) Young, wild, mildly psychotic, overly sexed young spoiled daddy's little rich girl. Arrogant rich husband now bored with, young, bored, mildly psychotic ....little rich girl.
A few bodies here and there (Nope not the young ...little rich girl, its really not that obvious.) In fact it's (the story) not bad at all.
So, if you think this likeable, not overly ambitious, Department Store Detective type of thing might seem a bit intriguing? ..maybe you should give it a try. I'm guessing you'll like it.
Other characters, trusty female sidekick after chance encounter and mild sex (Well, the description anyway, I wasn't there, but they seemed to like it.) Young, wild, mildly psychotic, overly sexed young spoiled daddy's little rich girl. Arrogant rich husband now bored with, young, bored, mildly psychotic ....little rich girl.
A few bodies here and there (Nope not the young ...little rich girl, its really not that obvious.) In fact it's (the story) not bad at all.
So, if you think this likeable, not overly ambitious, Department Store Detective type of thing might seem a bit intriguing? ..maybe you should give it a try. I'm guessing you'll like it.
January 28, 2013
I really liked this cozy mystery. It was different from other cozies I have read before. This one starred a male lead and I'm used to the female perspective in a cozy. The mystery was interesting and I liked the way the lead character, Quint handled situations. He was an unambitious man who had a laidback view of the world. I enjoyed seeing him forced into action. I would have liked a little more resolution to the end of the story simply because I want to know where Quint's life will take him next. I guess I'll have to get the next book in the series to find out.
January 25, 2018
Entertaining mystery/suspense set in Chicago --has an old-fashioned feel.
June 2, 2008
This is the first novel (of five) for D.C. Brod's policeman-turned store detective-turned private investigator Quint McCauley. What sets this novel apart from the run of usual detective stories is the graceful quality of the prose, the tender building of character, and the gritty, compelling setting. I admit I'm prone to like Chicago stories, but more often find greater fault in the detail because I'm partial to and knowledgeable of the city. I admired and enjoyed the atmospheric detail in this novel, as well as the bubbling undercurrent of romance and sex, in a bloody yet realistic plot. Quint, in a cool manner, sets about looking into a threat that begets a murder that begets another murder and so on, in a way consisent with the genre but a notch above because of the treatment. The twists and turns are cleverly negotiated, compelling and, to the end, satisfying.
May 11, 2012
Quint McCauley, head of security at a major Chicago store, has to deal with the wife of the owner, who delights in shop-lifting in her own store. When called into Preston Hauser's office, he thinks it's because of Preston's wife, Diana. However, Preston has been receiving threatening notes, and he wants Quint to investigate, on the QT. Shortly thereafter, Preston drops dead, in Quint's presence, from a poisoned vitamin pill. Quint decided to continue the hunt for the note-sender, and hopefully, the killer.
Diana, of course, is prime suspect because she's the pretty young wife, of a very rich, older man. Quint, finds that she's not the only one who would benefit from Preston's death, and it's a convoluted investigation that ensues before the real culprit is found.
I love a mystery, and this is a good one.
Diana, of course, is prime suspect because she's the pretty young wife, of a very rich, older man. Quint, finds that she's not the only one who would benefit from Preston's death, and it's a convoluted investigation that ensues before the real culprit is found.
I love a mystery, and this is a good one.
May 5, 2013
A very decent whodunnit, a classic style story which reminded me of the old tv shows like "Matlock", "Murder, she wrote", "Father Downing", etc. A very likeable main character, extra characters were good too. The only reason I'm not giving it more than three stars is that I had a problem with the dialogues. I don't know whether I just had a faulty copy or something, but I got confused who was saying what when sentences said by two different people were standing side by side in the same paragraph. I'm used to the text starting at a new line when another character starts talking. Also, there were lots of periods missing, and even capitals here and there. Perhaps those last two remarks are just nitpicking, but the dialogue really bothered me.
August 3, 2013
This is another older mystery and it's a winner. The writing flows smoothly with natural dialogue and there were a few twists along the way. I love the protagonist - an ex-cop turned department store security head. He is funny and smart and very likeable. The only thing that's not appealing about the older mysteries I've been reading is that everybody smokes! Quite a contrast to current writers who seldom (but occasionally) have good guys who smoke. I'll be looking at the library for another one by Brod. Highly recommend.
January 30, 2012
This book had a very odd tone. It seemed like it wanted to have a noir feel to it, but then the author realized they couldn't pull it off. It was written in 1993, but had more of a 20s to 50s feel to the setting and the characters. It certainly wasn't the most horribly written thing I've ever read, but I found it tough to mesh the tone it seemed to want with the tone it achieved.
October 7, 2015
Enjoyable characters
Good read with a plot that keeps changing direction. Main characters were fairly well developed. Some parts of the plot felt more like filler than a necessary part of the story. The ending came together quickly and left interest in what the future holds for the main characters.
Good read with a plot that keeps changing direction. Main characters were fairly well developed. Some parts of the plot felt more like filler than a necessary part of the story. The ending came together quickly and left interest in what the future holds for the main characters.
March 8, 2012
it was an ok read not something I would usually read but, I got through it.U get what U pay for FREE. Not a bad read also not a page turner. I just wanted to know WHO DUN NIT? So my curosity wouldn't let me put it down. Eventho I read 3 books before I finish this one and started this one first.
December 30, 2012
This book kept me guessing and it took me most of the story to figure out "whodunit". I found myself rooting for McCauley more than once. I will be reading more in this series and any others D.C. Brod writes.
March 2, 2016
A nice easy read.
I read a chapter or two when I have the
time. The plot is easy to follow and uncomplicated. It took me several weeks to finish reading this book, with no trouble following the plot.
I read a chapter or two when I have the
time. The plot is easy to follow and uncomplicated. It took me several weeks to finish reading this book, with no trouble following the plot.
Want to Read
January 28, 2012$0.0 regularly $9.99
February 16, 2012
I enjoyed this story. It reminded me of the 1930s/40s detective movies. You could almost hear him as he talked over the action in the movie. I will read more of this series.
March 24, 2012
This was an easy read. Nothing special, but it kept my interest on the elliptical and made my workouts bearable.
March 12, 2012
A fun read.
June 27, 2012
There are plenty of murder suspects among the staff and owners of a department store.
April 8, 2013
quirky and fun- a lot of characters and motives to keep up with, but I'll probably read another in the series.
April 19, 2012
Very nice mystery and not predictable. I want to read more from this author.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews