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Sharon McCone #3
The Cheshire Cat’s Eye
To tourists, bay-windowed Victorian mansions are quaint, peaceful symbols of old San Francisco, but on the secluded hill above Steiner Street, the gingerbread has sparked a bitter battle. Ambitious developers are pushing for restoration, and residents are fighting for their homes--until a controversial restorationist is found dead on the job, awash in garish house paint. Private investigator Sharon McCone is called in only to discover a second bitter feud, this time between the developers and members of the city's powerful architectural community. As workmen rip through layers of drywall plaster, and wallpaper, McCone unearths an older a cache of stolen antiques comes to light, and a missing one-of-a-kind Tiffany lamp emblazoned with the glowing profile of the Cheshire Cat becomes McCone's most important clue. To catch a killer, she must follow its eerie, knowing grin before its hidden eye foresees a fatal future.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 1983
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About the author
Marcia Muller
165 books725 followersMarcia Muller is an American author of mystery and thriller novels.
Muller has written many novels featuring her Sharon McCone female private detective character. Vanishing Point won the Shamus Award for Best P.I. Novel. Muller had been nominated for the Shamus Award four times previously.
In 2005, Muller was awarded the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master award.
She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Birmingham, Michigan, and graduated in English from the University of Michigan and worked as a journalist at Sunset magazine. She is married to detective fiction author Bill Pronzini with whom she has collaborated on several novels.
Muller has written many novels featuring her Sharon McCone female private detective character. Vanishing Point won the Shamus Award for Best P.I. Novel. Muller had been nominated for the Shamus Award four times previously.
In 2005, Muller was awarded the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master award.
She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Birmingham, Michigan, and graduated in English from the University of Michigan and worked as a journalist at Sunset magazine. She is married to detective fiction author Bill Pronzini with whom she has collaborated on several novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
August 15, 2020
This first edition St. Martin's Press hardcover is signed by Marcia Muller.
In “The Cheshire Cat's Eye” by Marcia Muller, Sharon McCone is plunged into her new case and encounters (gasp) a murder. This time her investigations have lead her to San Francisco's "Painted Ladies", the landmark district of gaudily colored Victorian row houses.
Responding to her old friend Jake Kaufmann's call, Sharon is surprised to find him dead in a pool of red paint in the house he was restoring. The murder of the master house painter and colorist hs been made to look like an accident. The assumption is that his killer will be found among the glamorous, fashionable figures of the city's architectural community, Sharon is soon involved in the battles between the matronly, upper-crust preservationists and the flamboyant, funky defenders of the psychedelic houses.
Her investigation narrows to the pursuit of one very valuable clue: a one-of-a-kind Tiffany lamp emblazoned with the grinning face of the Cheshire Cat. But it is when Sharon herself is implicated in Jake's death that the pressure reaches increases for her, and it takes all of her wiles to get herself out of this situation.
This series is Based in San Francisco, Sharon McCone who wanted to become a social worker but she discovered she had some talents in the field of investigation. She ended up working as a staff investigator for a legal co-op founded by Hank Zahn, a lawyer.
A native of the Detroit area, Marcia Muller grew up in a house full of books. Muller has authored many novels, some of them in collaboration with her husband Bill Pronzini. The couple now live in Sonoma County, California also in a house full of books.
In “The Cheshire Cat's Eye” by Marcia Muller, Sharon McCone is plunged into her new case and encounters (gasp) a murder. This time her investigations have lead her to San Francisco's "Painted Ladies", the landmark district of gaudily colored Victorian row houses.
Responding to her old friend Jake Kaufmann's call, Sharon is surprised to find him dead in a pool of red paint in the house he was restoring. The murder of the master house painter and colorist hs been made to look like an accident. The assumption is that his killer will be found among the glamorous, fashionable figures of the city's architectural community, Sharon is soon involved in the battles between the matronly, upper-crust preservationists and the flamboyant, funky defenders of the psychedelic houses.
Her investigation narrows to the pursuit of one very valuable clue: a one-of-a-kind Tiffany lamp emblazoned with the grinning face of the Cheshire Cat. But it is when Sharon herself is implicated in Jake's death that the pressure reaches increases for her, and it takes all of her wiles to get herself out of this situation.
This series is Based in San Francisco, Sharon McCone who wanted to become a social worker but she discovered she had some talents in the field of investigation. She ended up working as a staff investigator for a legal co-op founded by Hank Zahn, a lawyer.
A native of the Detroit area, Marcia Muller grew up in a house full of books. Muller has authored many novels, some of them in collaboration with her husband Bill Pronzini. The couple now live in Sonoma County, California also in a house full of books.
April 28, 2020
This is the first time I have read a Sharon McCone mystery. The story was interesting and kept me turning the pages. Who killed Jake the Painter, and who wants the renovation project halted? Does Jakes murder have anything to do with a past murder and what is the mystery surrounding a Tiffany lamp? As Maggie follows the clues the story moves briskly along. Although I guessed at the villian, the road there was still enjoyable. Looking forward to reading more of this series.
August 25, 2022
A good mystery that takes place in San Francisco, with a bunch of suspects in the murder of several people. Nice setting , a missing Tiffany Lamp and several shady characters for P. I. Sharon McCone to sort through.
February 11, 2014
I've been reading this series randomly for 15 years. It really doesn't matter where you start, the Sharon McCone stories are pretty much timeless and you don't need to read the books in order to enjoy them.
In this installment, Sharon is called upon to unravel the mystery of her friend Jake's murder. Jake, who transformed San Francisco Victorian houses into the archetypal "Painted Ladies" is found dead in a pool of clumsily spilled red paint - a clear indication to Sharon that this is a staged scene. She's hired to investigate the murder by David Wintringham, son of a local millionaire and owner of the house where the crime took place. As usual, there's plenty of hostility, violence.
Wintringham is trying to renovate the neighborhood, a move that is forcing out the working class African-American population. Local merchants and a former, embittered councilman with a thug enforcer are openly hostile to his efforts. He's also facing opposition from the local historical preservation organization, as well as dealing with his sleazy, former-rock-producer partner, an emotionally fragile boyfriend and the high costs of running his renovation business.
To make things even more confusing, there's the matter of a valuable missing Tiffany lamp, in the shape of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. It had disappeared, only to reappear in a dumpster with several fakes. Sharon manages to retrieve it, but not without running afoul of the local ex-councilman. Her investigation is further complicated by the fact that Wintringham's partner appears to be conducting his own 'investigation' into the lamp's disappearance, just a few irritating steps ahead of her.
I didn't quite guess who-dun-it toward the end, which is my standard for a good mystery. If there is a down side to the early books, it's Sharon's relationship with her homicide detective boyfriend, Greg. He's a bit of a misogynist and a jerk. Not a character that I could believe Sharon would give the time of day let alone date.
In this installment, Sharon is called upon to unravel the mystery of her friend Jake's murder. Jake, who transformed San Francisco Victorian houses into the archetypal "Painted Ladies" is found dead in a pool of clumsily spilled red paint - a clear indication to Sharon that this is a staged scene. She's hired to investigate the murder by David Wintringham, son of a local millionaire and owner of the house where the crime took place. As usual, there's plenty of hostility, violence.
Wintringham is trying to renovate the neighborhood, a move that is forcing out the working class African-American population. Local merchants and a former, embittered councilman with a thug enforcer are openly hostile to his efforts. He's also facing opposition from the local historical preservation organization, as well as dealing with his sleazy, former-rock-producer partner, an emotionally fragile boyfriend and the high costs of running his renovation business.
To make things even more confusing, there's the matter of a valuable missing Tiffany lamp, in the shape of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. It had disappeared, only to reappear in a dumpster with several fakes. Sharon manages to retrieve it, but not without running afoul of the local ex-councilman. Her investigation is further complicated by the fact that Wintringham's partner appears to be conducting his own 'investigation' into the lamp's disappearance, just a few irritating steps ahead of her.
I didn't quite guess who-dun-it toward the end, which is my standard for a good mystery. If there is a down side to the early books, it's Sharon's relationship with her homicide detective boyfriend, Greg. He's a bit of a misogynist and a jerk. Not a character that I could believe Sharon would give the time of day let alone date.
September 30, 2018
Quick, sharp, and excellent. This third Sharon McCone mystery has all the interests of the first two, antiques and Victorian houses, a few loopy secondary characters and a plot that clips along so quickly that 149 pages feels like no time at all. Boy do I miss the shorter mystery lengths of the 80’s. Here, a painter/colorist friend calls McCone for help but when she arrives, only his body is waiting. Suspects include the general contractor son of an architect, his lover, his business partner, an interior designer, a lighting designer, and a restoration fanatic. The bits of historical architectural information are dropped in lightly. Fabulous.
November 12, 2012
Number three in the series and showing improvement over the first two. The dialogue isn't so unreal, which really helps. However, it reads like a beginner's clunky first novel, and McCone's relationship with her cop boyfriend is as undeveloped as a crudely drawn paper cutout.
I want a lamp like the Cheshire Cat's Eye!
I want a lamp like the Cheshire Cat's Eye!
April 28, 2018
I first read this book when I was teen, and this is my first audio relisten of it in roughly 20 years. I remembered snatches of the plot, mostly the Victorian houses and the Tiffany lamp. The rest of it was basically like the first time all over again (hey, I've read and listened to a lot of books in 20 years). I liked this. Throwing in gentrification of neighborhoods as part of the conflict gave this story a timely feel despite the 30 year age - and in some ways Muller's depiction of the gay characters is downright revolutionary when you consider 1983. In other ways though? The depiction of the gay and black characters does feel dated. I've read more offensive in older books, but I think if the author were writing this book today, it wouldn't be the same book. A product of it's time.
April 9, 2023
A fun mystery that has Sharon McCone investigating the death of a friend in an old Victorian mansion. This is a quick, relaxing read with likable characters.
June 30, 2012
Still watching the evolution of Marcia Muller's PI Sharon McCone. In this one the focus is on the restoration of the Victorian 'ladies' and the preservation of houses in general. I enjoy seeing San Francisco through McCone's eyes even though I'm not that familiar with the city. At last she got together with Marcus and had some liberated sex. It's funny how morals were changing then and how dated some ideas seem when you look back 30 years.
I like this series, but it seems a lot grittier than other female detective series.
I like this series, but it seems a lot grittier than other female detective series.
June 24, 2021
This is the third in the Sharon McCone series. Sharon is a Private Investigator for a legal cooperative in San Francisco and, together with her cop boyfriend, she is looking into a murder that occurred in an old Victorian mansion that is being renovated. Full of typical politically correct stuff: hard-boiled single gal, yuppie types. A Tiffany lamp and artsy reproductions are among the clues.
Read
October 18, 2016A quick read on a lazy day, I knew the Killer as soon as all the characters were introduced, but can not remember if this was a first read or a re-read. I am getting old
September 5, 2024
Some highly dated themes and language kept me from enjoying this as much as I might have otherwise, TBH.
December 7, 2018
Sharon McCone, that intrepid San Francisco private eye who doesn't play well with a certain police detective except after hours, is on to a new murder. This time she has been asked to meet a former client, house painter Jack Kaufmann, who was also once her lover. When she arrives at a historic Victorian house under renovation, she finds the door ajar and the man dead; bludgeoned and covered in red paint.
Kaufmann's client becomes McCone's and she quickly looks at both the glamorous, fashionable figures of the city's architectural community while diving into the neighborhood where the death occurred, a mostly poor black community that will eventually be replaced if more of these old homes are restored and purchased.
Was Kaufmann killed for his wild, colorful choices for the historic home or for knowing something that he shouldn't and does his death have something to do with the earlier death of McCone's client's father?
A pretty good mystery even though I'm still not quite satisfied with the character of Sharon McCone. How does this woman attract men as she is so off off-putting and defensive? what drives her as a detective (is it only a job?) and as a person? Is McCone only as she is portrayed. There are layers to the character but it doesn't go much beyond the surface. For one thing, the issue of her being part native American - is it just dropped into the stories like the color of her hair, or is there a point?
Kaufmann's client becomes McCone's and she quickly looks at both the glamorous, fashionable figures of the city's architectural community while diving into the neighborhood where the death occurred, a mostly poor black community that will eventually be replaced if more of these old homes are restored and purchased.
Was Kaufmann killed for his wild, colorful choices for the historic home or for knowing something that he shouldn't and does his death have something to do with the earlier death of McCone's client's father?
A pretty good mystery even though I'm still not quite satisfied with the character of Sharon McCone. How does this woman attract men as she is so off off-putting and defensive? what drives her as a detective (is it only a job?) and as a person? Is McCone only as she is portrayed. There are layers to the character but it doesn't go much beyond the surface. For one thing, the issue of her being part native American - is it just dropped into the stories like the color of her hair, or is there a point?
January 13, 2025
Third book in the series, still feels amateurish. There are 35 books in the series so far (latest one from 2024) so they must get better.
2.5 stars but rounded up because I like the detective and the plot is good.
Her police lieutenant boyfriend is still a jerk and continues to call her by a nickname she finds offensive but he doesn’t care.
She still has the cat from book 2 but is never home so I don’t know how it’s still alive.
The author is not good at writing about black and gay characters and comes off slightly racist and homophonic. This book is set in San Francisco and was published in 1983 but seems like the story takes place in the 1970s, before Harvey Milk and also when the colorist movement (painting of Victorian houses in bright colors) was still active.
2.5 stars but rounded up because I like the detective and the plot is good.
Her police lieutenant boyfriend is still a jerk and continues to call her by a nickname she finds offensive but he doesn’t care.
She still has the cat from book 2 but is never home so I don’t know how it’s still alive.
The author is not good at writing about black and gay characters and comes off slightly racist and homophonic. This book is set in San Francisco and was published in 1983 but seems like the story takes place in the 1970s, before Harvey Milk and also when the colorist movement (painting of Victorian houses in bright colors) was still active.
March 23, 2025
This story was about what I came to expect from the series: a moderately interesting mystery with a very formulaic resolution, a look into San Francisco's unsavory characters and they dealings, and casually icky "romantic" relationships. The story is an interesting artifact of its time, which is the only reason I keep reading this series.
(I also keep wondering whether the author thinks that the main character's romance is actually romantic, which would be tragically sad, or is it intentionally portrayed as disgusting. So far it's inconclusive either way.)
(I also keep wondering whether the author thinks that the main character's romance is actually romantic, which would be tragically sad, or is it intentionally portrayed as disgusting. So far it's inconclusive either way.)
July 16, 2018
When on page 194 as Sharon finally understands the clue that has been there all along, I still wasn't sure who the culprit was. I had a good idea, yes, but I didn't KNOW until the muderer showed up. And I love that I didn't know, yet it made sense when she explained it to me. :-) I am truly enjoying romping through the McCone mysteries. They have been sitting on the slef since I read them 20 plus years ago and it is fun to see Sharon as she was then.
July 23, 2021
Wonderful Listening 🎧
Due to eye issues and damage from shingles Alexa reads to me. I find it like being there.
Another will written romantic thriller mystery adventure book three in the Sharon McCome Series. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story line is set in San Francisco where a friend of Sharon's is murder which leads to two more murders before Sharon solves the case. I would recommend this series to readers of mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading 2021 🎉✨😎
Due to eye issues and damage from shingles Alexa reads to me. I find it like being there.
Another will written romantic thriller mystery adventure book three in the Sharon McCome Series. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story line is set in San Francisco where a friend of Sharon's is murder which leads to two more murders before Sharon solves the case. I would recommend this series to readers of mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading 2021 🎉✨😎
November 15, 2025
I love reading these older books as it's often like traveling through time, but it can also be a stark reminder of the micro-aggressions, blatant misogyny, and discrimination that was normal at these times. I appreciate the evidence and reminder of everything we have fought against. This one's plot and pacing were quite fun and thrilling, but the constant reminder of marginalized communities in this book left me confused if Marcia was an Ally or just part of the common stigmatization.
July 23, 2017
Excellent early entry in the Sharon McCone mysteries. In succeeding books, she changes a great deal and becomes an excellent PI. In this one, you can see how young she is and how much she has to learn. Love the character development.
Contrary to the book's blurb, the person who dies is not a "best friend", but rather a friend. Very suspenseful and puzzling. Highly recommended.
Contrary to the book's blurb, the person who dies is not a "best friend", but rather a friend. Very suspenseful and puzzling. Highly recommended.
February 28, 2018
This one has Sharon meeting an old friend at a house under renovation and when she shows up, he's dead. And he is just the first of several murders. Some of Sharon's thought process is a little annoying, but with a few "red herrings" this one was a little better. And this one had even less "woman-as-a-victim feel to it (that can get tiresome). We'll keep going to see how they progress.
August 27, 2020
I've been going back and reading the early Sharon McCone books, some for the 1st time and some for the 2nd. Just as good as the later ones, if shorter. Love the All Souls days and SF in the 70's, when there was still the possiblity of cheap housing. And Sharon was still trying to figure herself out. Great series!!!!
August 31, 2018
A period piece, San Fran in the early 1980’s, before gay power and AIDS. Ultimately unconvincing given the heroine’s penchant for interfering with the job of the police and putting herself in harm’s way.
October 22, 2018
This is a murder mystery with the main character being a thirty-something investigator named Sharon McCone. She is the author's main character for a series of mysteries. This is number three. She begins investigating a murder that just happened in one of the client's houses that is being renovated. She ends up investigating a 6-year-old murder she believes is connected. She is dating the police lieutenant that is investigating the murder as well. It is a complex whodunit set in San Francisco. It was a good read.
July 22, 2017
It was okay. An easy quick read. Wasn't much that stood out.
Enjoyed other books in the series more.
Enjoyed other books in the series more.
September 12, 2017
An entertaining quick read. Fans of Sharon McCone, San Francisco, and Victorian houses will really enjoy this one. A well-crafted who-dunnit!
November 19, 2017
Too light of a read.
June 18, 2018
fun to revisit the 80's with answering services and payphones
August 4, 2018
Easy read but keeps you guessing
The pace of the plot development keeps you interested without being rushed and story line is very plausible with good character development
The pace of the plot development keeps you interested without being rushed and story line is very plausible with good character development
December 26, 2018
I liked learning about architecture but I had figured the villain out early.
April 23, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews