In Plain Sight

Robin Light #3

by Barbara Block

It's raining in Syracuse. Amateur sleuth Robin Light half-wishes her pet store, Noah's Ark, would just get up and float away—business is that bad. But just when she thinks she's sold her last macaw, two clients come calling. The first one needs protection from a brutish husband; the other needs protection from bats. Although she knows that bats are basically harmless and only some husbands are dangerous, Robin takes the cases. A bad marriage has turned Marsha Pennington from a bubbly blond to an overweight, unhappy woman. Her husband Merlin, a bat exterminator, has been systematically draining the life out of her for years. Just out of spite, Merlin is threatening to take away Marsha's pride and joy. She simply can't live without Pooh and Po, her twin Shihtzus. Maybe that's why she's found dead only days after enlisting Robin's help. Who would want to murder a lonely, soft-hearted woman who didn't seem to be a real threat to anyone? A visit to Merlin raises more questions than Robin can answer... and reveals more intimate secrets about the Penningtons than she ever wanted to know. Soon, a startling series of clues and suspects begins materializing right before her eyes. But it isn't until after Robin receives a mysterious invitation to a secluded farm that the solution becomes clear. Only by then, it may be too late: Robin has already been marked for certain extinction by a vicious killer who waits... in plain sight.

Genres: Mystery

334 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Aka Isis Crawford

Barbara Block is the author of the Robin Light Mystery Series, Twister, In Plain Sight, Scent of Murder, and Vanishing Act. Her upcoming release, Endangered Species, will be available in September of 1999. She was recently named one of Booklist's Top Five Lesser Known Female Sleuths so, hopefully, a wider audience will discover her through the thrills of Endangered Species. A longtime freelance writer, Barbara has produced numerous feature articles and reviews in addition to her novels. When she's not writing, Barbara somehow finds the time to run a catering business specializing in desserts.

Barbara holds a BA in Spanish from New York University and an MA in Spanish from Columbia University. She has also studied at Hunter College and the School of Visual Arts. An avid traveler, Barbara has toured extensively through both Europe and Latin America.

As a youth, animals were among Barbara's many interests. Her childhood was crowded with pets of every kind that included a type of alligator known as a caiman. The caiman took up residence in the family bathtub, much to the guests' dismay. Her love for creatures has not dissipated over the years. Indeed, her deep interest in animals has led her to be a "mother" to dogs, cats, ferrets, Burmese pythons, and monitor lizards. Included in the zoo were three male Homo sapiens of her own.

Originally from New York City, Barbara Block has made Syracuse her home for twenty-five years.

Reviews

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and I am so glad I came across it in a Thrift Shop! I like the characters and the story lines keep me turning the pages. Looking forward to the next one.

[Janete on hiatus due health issues · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at Page 181.

[Kristi Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. I had suspicions about who it was but they kept it pretty well hidden until the end.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a re-read from several years ago. The book doesn't age well. Didn't care for most of the characters this time around. The story isn't dated, but this seems to be one where the heroine sets out to prove the police don't know what they are doing, and don't do that little bit very well.

[Liz Elfring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure if I like the Heroine, Robin Light but a good read with a fun twist. I'll try some more of this series.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book and plan on reading the rest of the series.

[Katharine Ott · Rating 2 out of 5]

"In Plain Sight" - written by Barbara Block and first published in 1996. A mostly forgettable mystery featuring a drug-using pet store owner.