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Rachel Gold Mysteries #9
Face Value
As St. Louis attorney Rachel Gold knows firsthand, the grueling hours and demands of Big Law take their toll on young lawyers. Some turn to drugs, some quit the profession, and occasionally one quits altogether. According to the medical examiner, Sari Bashir quit altogether on that Thursday night. That's when she fell to her death from the eighth floor of the downtown garage where she parked her car.
The police ruled her death a suicide. Stanley Plotkin, however, rules it a homicide. Stanley is the weird mailroom clerk at Sari's law firm, but he is also a true genius. Among his obsessions is the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), a massive compilation that correlates hundreds of facial muscle actions with specific emotions and mental states. For someone like Stanley, whose Asperger's Syndrome renders him incapable of intuiting emotions from facial expressions, his mastery of FACS has caused him to conclude that Sari did not kill herself.
Rachel had been close with Sari, who worked for her during law school. She also knows Stanley-and his quirkiness and his genius-because their mothers are friends. Thus when Stanley announces his conclusion to Rachel as she drives him home from Sari's memorial service, she can't simply dismiss it. And when Sari's father pleads with Rachel to review the police file on his daughter's suicide, she reluctantly starts down a path that will lead into the heart of a dark criminal enterprise in which Sari was simply collateral damage.
- GenresMystery
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
12 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Michael A. Kahn
25 books44 followersPseudonym for Michael Baron.
Michael Kahn is a trial lawyer by day and an author at night. He wrote his first novel, GRAVE DESIGNS, on a challenge from his wife Margi, who got tired of listening to the same answer whenever she asked him about a book he was reading. "Not bad," he would say, "but I could write a better book than that." "Then write one," she finally said, "or please shut up." So he shut up for a few months--no easy task for an attorney--but finally wrote one.
Kahn is the award-winning author of 11 Rachel Gold novels, the most recent being BAD TRUST, and three stand-alone novels: the recently published PLAYED!, about which Library Journal wrote, "“Fans of quick reads . . . will be well served by this thriller’s fast pace"; THE SIRENA QUEST, which Publishers Weekly praised as “Equal parts rollicking adventure, existential and spiritual quest, and coming-of-(middle)-age tale”; and THE MOURNING SEXTON, a mystery novel under the pen name Michael Baron. His most recent Rachel Gold novel, THE DEAD HAND, was published last fall.
In addition to his day job as a lawyer, he is an adjunct professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, where he teaches a class on censorship and free expression. Married to his high school sweetheart, he is the father of five and the grandfather of, so far, five.
Michael Kahn is a trial lawyer by day and an author at night. He wrote his first novel, GRAVE DESIGNS, on a challenge from his wife Margi, who got tired of listening to the same answer whenever she asked him about a book he was reading. "Not bad," he would say, "but I could write a better book than that." "Then write one," she finally said, "or please shut up." So he shut up for a few months--no easy task for an attorney--but finally wrote one.
Kahn is the award-winning author of 11 Rachel Gold novels, the most recent being BAD TRUST, and three stand-alone novels: the recently published PLAYED!, about which Library Journal wrote, "“Fans of quick reads . . . will be well served by this thriller’s fast pace"; THE SIRENA QUEST, which Publishers Weekly praised as “Equal parts rollicking adventure, existential and spiritual quest, and coming-of-(middle)-age tale”; and THE MOURNING SEXTON, a mystery novel under the pen name Michael Baron. His most recent Rachel Gold novel, THE DEAD HAND, was published last fall.
In addition to his day job as a lawyer, he is an adjunct professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, where he teaches a class on censorship and free expression. Married to his high school sweetheart, he is the father of five and the grandfather of, so far, five.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 8, 2014
This was a serviceable, sturdy mystery.
A young lawyer commits what appears at first glance to be suicide, but turns out to be murder. Lawyer, Rachel Gold, decides to investigate based on the word of one of her quirky friends who has Asberger's.
She enlists the help of her other quirky friends, and together they figure out who did it, and, you, as the reader, will probably figure it out about 100 pages before they do.
It's not terrible. It's got a couple of good laughs, and the characters are all pretty fun, but it is pretty predictable.
I won't be seeking out any others in the series, but this was a fun, if not memorable, read.
*language, violence, sexual references
A young lawyer commits what appears at first glance to be suicide, but turns out to be murder. Lawyer, Rachel Gold, decides to investigate based on the word of one of her quirky friends who has Asberger's.
She enlists the help of her other quirky friends, and together they figure out who did it, and, you, as the reader, will probably figure it out about 100 pages before they do.
It's not terrible. It's got a couple of good laughs, and the characters are all pretty fun, but it is pretty predictable.
I won't be seeking out any others in the series, but this was a fun, if not memorable, read.
*language, violence, sexual references
October 5, 2020
3.5 stars
This was an okay addition to a favorite series. If you like the legal/mystery genre and strong savvy female protagonists, not to mention some ribald humor, start with the first series books and enjoy reading your way through.
This was an okay addition to a favorite series. If you like the legal/mystery genre and strong savvy female protagonists, not to mention some ribald humor, start with the first series books and enjoy reading your way through.
August 3, 2018
Almost all of this book is recycled material from other books, with the great exception of Stanley and FACS. Might be time to pack in the series.
January 25, 2021
3.5 stars
December 6, 2022
OK read just light entertainment kept me interested
February 26, 2023
3.5
.5 for being set in St.Louis
.5 for being set in St.Louis
June 17, 2014
A young attorney has fallen from the eighth floor of a parking garage next to her law firm. It appears to be a suicide, but a friend who has Asperger’s but is a genius in the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) insists Sari has been murdered. St. Louis attorney Rachel Gold becomes involved in the case and agrees to investigate the possible murder.
The plot of this mystery is unique. A mail room employee who works at the victim’s law firm is positive Sari’s death is not a suicide. Stanley Plotkin is not an ordinary mail clerk, though. He has Asperger’s Syndrome but is a genius, especially knowledgeable about the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), a system that correlates facial muscle actions with specific emotions. Stanley’s expertise in this area helps convince Rachel that Stanley could be right and agrees to look into Sari’s death on behalf of Sari’s grieving father. From there, the book takes off with non-stop action and wonderful humor as Rachel questions witnesses and makes inquiries to get to the truth of Sari’s death.
I’m thrilled the Rachel Gold series has been revived! As expected with a Michael Kahn novel, you get an interesting mystery and great legal scenes seamlessly woven into an exciting story. Rachel demonstrates her usual compassion, determination, and knowledge of the law. She is a strong, female character that is completely likable due to her integrity and intelligence. Rachel’s professionalism is complemented by the crazy, inappropriate antics of her best friend Benny, who remains likeable even when he is acting obnoxious. I love the friendship between him and Rachel and when they team up on an investigation, you know they will find out the truth.
Fans of the series won’t be disappointed in this latest Rachel Gold mystery. Readers unfamiliar with this series, but who enjoy the Decker and Lazarus series by Faye Kellerman will want to give this novel a try. New readers will be able to dig right in and get to know the characters, but afterwards will want to seek out other books in the series to spend even more time with attorney Rachel Gold.
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Poisoned Pen. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
The plot of this mystery is unique. A mail room employee who works at the victim’s law firm is positive Sari’s death is not a suicide. Stanley Plotkin is not an ordinary mail clerk, though. He has Asperger’s Syndrome but is a genius, especially knowledgeable about the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), a system that correlates facial muscle actions with specific emotions. Stanley’s expertise in this area helps convince Rachel that Stanley could be right and agrees to look into Sari’s death on behalf of Sari’s grieving father. From there, the book takes off with non-stop action and wonderful humor as Rachel questions witnesses and makes inquiries to get to the truth of Sari’s death.
I’m thrilled the Rachel Gold series has been revived! As expected with a Michael Kahn novel, you get an interesting mystery and great legal scenes seamlessly woven into an exciting story. Rachel demonstrates her usual compassion, determination, and knowledge of the law. She is a strong, female character that is completely likable due to her integrity and intelligence. Rachel’s professionalism is complemented by the crazy, inappropriate antics of her best friend Benny, who remains likeable even when he is acting obnoxious. I love the friendship between him and Rachel and when they team up on an investigation, you know they will find out the truth.
Fans of the series won’t be disappointed in this latest Rachel Gold mystery. Readers unfamiliar with this series, but who enjoy the Decker and Lazarus series by Faye Kellerman will want to give this novel a try. New readers will be able to dig right in and get to know the characters, but afterwards will want to seek out other books in the series to spend even more time with attorney Rachel Gold.
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Poisoned Pen. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2014
Novel received courtesy of Goodreads.com giveaway
"Face Value" is part of the "Rachel Gold Mystery" series. I haven't read any of the other books in the series yet, but I definitely would.
I enjoyed several things about this novel. First of all, I enjoyed that it was set in St. Louis. It seems that most novels are set in New York or Chicago or LA; it's nice to read something that talks about another American city. I also enjoyed the actual mystery-a young lawyer was found on the sidewalk after an apparent suicide. A man who works in the mail room at the law office comes to Rachel to tell her that the woman couldn't have killed herself. Stanley is autistic and a savant when it comes to many things, one of which is reading people's facial cues. The story is so interesting and so different that I finished it at 3:00 this morning! The novel contains lots of humor and quirky characters.
My only complaint is that the editing was poor concerning grammar and correct spelling. There were several errors that bothered me enough to take my focus off of the novel and that's always a shame.
"Face Value" is part of the "Rachel Gold Mystery" series. I haven't read any of the other books in the series yet, but I definitely would.
I enjoyed several things about this novel. First of all, I enjoyed that it was set in St. Louis. It seems that most novels are set in New York or Chicago or LA; it's nice to read something that talks about another American city. I also enjoyed the actual mystery-a young lawyer was found on the sidewalk after an apparent suicide. A man who works in the mail room at the law office comes to Rachel to tell her that the woman couldn't have killed herself. Stanley is autistic and a savant when it comes to many things, one of which is reading people's facial cues. The story is so interesting and so different that I finished it at 3:00 this morning! The novel contains lots of humor and quirky characters.
My only complaint is that the editing was poor concerning grammar and correct spelling. There were several errors that bothered me enough to take my focus off of the novel and that's always a shame.
July 9, 2014
(This is only listed as an e-book, but I read it in print.)
Stanley Plotkin is the only one who suspects that Sari Bashir's death was not a suicide. But Stanley is eccentric; his Asperger's syndrome makes it hard for him to talk to people. He asks Rachel Gold, lawyer daughter of his mother's best friend, to investigate. Rachel hopes only to put Stanley's mind at rest, but soon finds suspicious circumstances that convince her that he may be right. Marvelous characters and setting.
Stanley Plotkin is the only one who suspects that Sari Bashir's death was not a suicide. But Stanley is eccentric; his Asperger's syndrome makes it hard for him to talk to people. He asks Rachel Gold, lawyer daughter of his mother's best friend, to investigate. Rachel hopes only to put Stanley's mind at rest, but soon finds suspicious circumstances that convince her that he may be right. Marvelous characters and setting.
September 27, 2014
The author, Michael Kahn, is a St Louis lawyer and is on the faculty of Washington University School of Law. When he is not practicing law or teaching it, he writes the Rachel Gold mysteries.
I like reading the Rachel Gold series by Michael Kahn because they feature the main character living in St Louis. These are not heavy reading and can be perused in a few days, but they are fun beach reads.
I like reading the Rachel Gold series by Michael Kahn because they feature the main character living in St Louis. These are not heavy reading and can be perused in a few days, but they are fun beach reads.
July 10, 2014
Overall I found this a fun, interesting and worthwhile read - just not a nail biter.
See full review at http://birch-bark.blogspot.ca/
See full review at http://birch-bark.blogspot.ca/
August 9, 2014
Great series! This book expands the list of ongoing characters to support a unique plot and a fascinating forensic use of reading faces.
April 17, 2015
Fun read for St. Louisans because of the references to local places.
April 14, 2015
A good murder mystery with an interesting, if eccentric cast of characters. Looking forward to the next Rachel Gold book.
July 4, 2016
kind of miss the Jewish aspect.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews