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Stuart Winter #1
No Sign of Murder
San Francisco P.I. Stuart Winter looks into the murder of a young, deaf heiress who volunteered as a sign language instructor—for a gorilla who may have witnessed her murder. Revised and updated edition.
- GenresMystery
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1990
61 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Alan Russell
24 books290 followersFollow Alan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alanrussellmysteryau...
Alan Russell is the author of The Last Good Dog, the sixth book in the #1 bestselling series featuring LAPD detective Michael Gideon and his K-9 partner, Sirius.
In 1990 Walker & Company published Alan's first book, No Sign of Murder, which received positive reviews, including a standalone rave from The New York Times. The work was followed up by The Forest Prime Evil and comedic mysteries The Hotel Detective and The Fat Innkeeper, which won him the Lefty Award, given to the best humorous mystery of the year, and a Critics’ Choice Award. His novel Multiple Wounds, a psychological thriller, earned him a nomination for both an Anthony Award and the Macavity Award for best novel of the year. Russell then published Shame, a novel of psychological suspense. His novels Exposure, Political Suicide, A Cold War, and The Homecoming, have been categorized as suspense novels. Alan is also the author of St. Nick, a Christmas Cop Novel, and the Gideon & Sirius novels, which include Burning Man, Guardians of the Night, Lost Dog, Gideon's Rescue, L.A. Woman, and The Last Good Dog.
Alan Russell is the author of The Last Good Dog, the sixth book in the #1 bestselling series featuring LAPD detective Michael Gideon and his K-9 partner, Sirius.
In 1990 Walker & Company published Alan's first book, No Sign of Murder, which received positive reviews, including a standalone rave from The New York Times. The work was followed up by The Forest Prime Evil and comedic mysteries The Hotel Detective and The Fat Innkeeper, which won him the Lefty Award, given to the best humorous mystery of the year, and a Critics’ Choice Award. His novel Multiple Wounds, a psychological thriller, earned him a nomination for both an Anthony Award and the Macavity Award for best novel of the year. Russell then published Shame, a novel of psychological suspense. His novels Exposure, Political Suicide, A Cold War, and The Homecoming, have been categorized as suspense novels. Alan is also the author of St. Nick, a Christmas Cop Novel, and the Gideon & Sirius novels, which include Burning Man, Guardians of the Night, Lost Dog, Gideon's Rescue, L.A. Woman, and The Last Good Dog.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 26, 2023
I've read several other books by Alan Russell and they are always well written and engaging. This was no different. Russell's main characters are likeable and smart, and he always manages to add just the right amount of humor without taking the story out of its genre. I enjoyed this quite a bit and will be reading the next installment. 4 stars
January 17, 2023
My husband picked this one for me from the library and I was a little skeptical due to its age. Turns out, he’s got better intuition than I gave him credit for.
It was a crisp, no nonsense, no needlessly long prose, investigative mystery that wrapped everything up nicely in the end—a rare thing in the book world nowadays it seems.
I connected with the character a bit. He seemed like a decent enough guy and he has realistically competent detective skills. After binging several detective novels, I was pleased that every character he interviewed lead to another clue. I hadn’t realized I was burnt out on murder mysteries made complex due to a large revolving cast of ‘suspects’ and ‘interviews’ that turn out to be nothing but dead ends—only for the clue to come from a forensic examiner.
I enjoyed the questions he asked, and how cut and dry they were. The entire story happens in the span of 174 pages with no extra filler!! God I hadn’t realized how bogged down some of these novels have been getting lately.
The deaf character’s were very interesting and challenged the detective who had to adapt—and fast, to a new way of communicating with his suspects.
The killer seems unhinged and believable, and the victim just went through so many horrible things, and yet the author wrote her erratic action to actually make sense by the end. I sort of guessed who the killer was, but wasn’t a certain as I usually am until much later. However, I didn’t see the friend thing coming at the end!
This tickled me. I will definitely be checking out more from this author. His stories read like a noir but with the grunge and ‘broodiness’ turned down just a hair. Perfect for me considering some of the noir titles tend to make the detective a chauvinist and that gets tiring to read after a while…
I’m pleased with this book, which is so far the best I’ve read this year.
It was a crisp, no nonsense, no needlessly long prose, investigative mystery that wrapped everything up nicely in the end—a rare thing in the book world nowadays it seems.
I connected with the character a bit. He seemed like a decent enough guy and he has realistically competent detective skills. After binging several detective novels, I was pleased that every character he interviewed lead to another clue. I hadn’t realized I was burnt out on murder mysteries made complex due to a large revolving cast of ‘suspects’ and ‘interviews’ that turn out to be nothing but dead ends—only for the clue to come from a forensic examiner.
I enjoyed the questions he asked, and how cut and dry they were. The entire story happens in the span of 174 pages with no extra filler!! God I hadn’t realized how bogged down some of these novels have been getting lately.
The deaf character’s were very interesting and challenged the detective who had to adapt—and fast, to a new way of communicating with his suspects.
The killer seems unhinged and believable, and the victim just went through so many horrible things, and yet the author wrote her erratic action to actually make sense by the end. I sort of guessed who the killer was, but wasn’t a certain as I usually am until much later. However, I didn’t see the friend thing coming at the end!
This tickled me. I will definitely be checking out more from this author. His stories read like a noir but with the grunge and ‘broodiness’ turned down just a hair. Perfect for me considering some of the noir titles tend to make the detective a chauvinist and that gets tiring to read after a while…
I’m pleased with this book, which is so far the best I’ve read this year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2020
Consistently good writer!
I have read all of Allan Russell's previous books and have never been disappointed. His stories are compelling and have interesting twists. I did not find it slow or boring as I have read in other reviews. There is a mystery and the investigator goes where he must to gather data and transform it into information, to sort fact from fiction and real guilt from guilty consciences. I enjoyed this book immensely.
I have read all of Allan Russell's previous books and have never been disappointed. His stories are compelling and have interesting twists. I did not find it slow or boring as I have read in other reviews. There is a mystery and the investigator goes where he must to gather data and transform it into information, to sort fact from fiction and real guilt from guilty consciences. I enjoyed this book immensely.
February 9, 2021
Do yourself a favor, read this now
In this time of isolation and fear, add alan
russell to your arsenal of good times. Better yet, have your friends read him also so you can share the jokes and the insights, the character and the plots. Will make your entire week better.
In this time of isolation and fear, add alan
russell to your arsenal of good times. Better yet, have your friends read him also so you can share the jokes and the insights, the character and the plots. Will make your entire week better.
August 13, 2021
Entertaining
Stuart Winter is a private investigator in San Francisco and has taken a missing person case. A beautiful young woman has been missing for 6 months. Stuart is an interesting character with a bountiful knowledge of the city’s history.
Stuart Winter is a private investigator in San Francisco and has taken a missing person case. A beautiful young woman has been missing for 6 months. Stuart is an interesting character with a bountiful knowledge of the city’s history.
September 4, 2023
Definitely disturbing
This was a bit of a disturbing read. As you try to figure out who done it, there are so many options. In the end they all unknowingly had a hand in it. I didn’t see that coming.
This was a bit of a disturbing read. As you try to figure out who done it, there are so many options. In the end they all unknowingly had a hand in it. I didn’t see that coming.
December 15, 2019
I'd say the author did pretty well incorporating Deaf characters into his novel. I've worked extensively with a Deaf professor, and one of the first books he suggested to me was Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language, about Martha's Vineyard. This was a decent mystery, but more of a character study overall. The ending was sad, in more ways than one. But for Miss Tuntland, I'd be pretty worried about Stuart Winter. I hope there's more of her in future books!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2019
A first attempt at a novel has resulted in home run for Alan Russell.
Having read almost every story by him, imagine my joy at finding this one now being available.
Having read almost every story by him, imagine my joy at finding this one now being available.
October 22, 2019
I was introduced to the works of Alan Russell 3 years ago and became an instant fan, since then I have read almost all his books. “No Sign of Murder” was the author’s debut novel but it has only just been released here on Kindle having been updated to include today’s technology (the internet instead of libraries, mobile phones instead of call boxes etc.) It received much praise when first published and I can understand why, my note-to-self to moderate my expectations proved entirely unnecessary because it certainly does not feel like it was penned by an inexperienced writer and compares very favourably with his later books.
October 28, 2019
I love Alan Russell
I liked this book because it is written about a PI in my favorite city of San Francisco for one thing. I am not sure I like his PI. I felt like the dream communication to be unrealistic but it was a fun read and he has evolved into a great story teller.
I liked this book because it is written about a PI in my favorite city of San Francisco for one thing. I am not sure I like his PI. I felt like the dream communication to be unrealistic but it was a fun read and he has evolved into a great story teller.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews