Murder Observed

Clara Gamadge Mystery #2

by Eleanor Boylan

Barry Lockwood is a lucky guy, or so it seems. He's found himself in a fresh relationship with Elizabeth Bauer, a lovely and charming journalism student, young enough to be his granddaughter and she's craving commitment. It seems so right but Anna Pittman smells something fishy. Twenty years after divorcing Barry, she still has a knack for ruining his good times. She suspects that this young lass is barking up the wrong tree. Then there is Dollfuss Moltke, Beth's shadowy, omnipresent companion, complete with a beautiful face and a secretive soul. Anna's old school chum Clara Gamadge thinks Anna is simply making a tempest in a teacup. But when Anna shows up dead, Clara's investigative prowess rushes to life. Everyone seems to think Anna's death an accident, but Clara wasn't born yesterday. What started as jealous suspicion unravels a perplexing path of matrimonial mischief, cloaked clues, and a ghastly seductive gold digger. Can Clara follow up the trail before nuptial vows produce another victim? 

Genres: Mystery

233 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Eleanor Daly Boylan was born in New York City in 1916. She began writing mystery fiction in the 1950's. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen mystery magazines and in Yankee Magazine. She was the daughter of Edward (a lawyer) and Kathleen (Ewing) Daly, and married Paul Boylan (a teacher) on September 9, 1944. Her children were: Paul, Jr., Edward, Thomas, Virginia, Eleanor.

She is the niece of Elizabeth Daly, who originally created the Gamadge characters. Eleanor Boylan has also been a professional puppeteer. She raised her family in Newton, Massachusetts and moved to Anna Maria Island in Florida in 1985. She is the creator of ‘Clara Gamadge’, widow of a forgery expert.

Series:
* Clara Gamadge Mystery

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little madcap, and weirdly blase about Nazis, but a nice quick cozy | It's strange to read a book written 33 years ago, and 45 years after the War, that feels it needs to explain who the SS were, and thinks a young German being an avowed Nazi is, with shrugged shoulders, detestable but not illegal (it was and remains illegal in Germany). The antagonist here was pretty clear, and the denouement very rushed, to the point that there's practically no closure. But the basic characters were fun to spend a little time with, which is what I read the Henry series for, too.

[Kirsten Simkiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as mysteries go, this one keeps a lot of the classic Marple style elements. Was it a great mystery book? No. Not really. It’s a pretty transparent mystery. Also contains Nazis! Be ye forewarned. There were some sentences from pro-Nazi characters that had me shaking my head.

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very obvious mystery but still entertaining.

[Peggy Christensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, and will read more books by Eleanor Boylan.

[Eugene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far too convoluted, complicated and serpentine for my likes; its saving grace is that it’s pretty short, so if you’ve looking for a quick read…

[Allison Henle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the first in this series, but this is just... meh? I don't know.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent...but the Elizabeth Daly series with Henry Gamadge (instead of featuring his wife Clara) is SO much better."