A Coffin for Two

Oz Blackstone #2

by Quintin Jardine

After cracking their first case as a private investigation team, Oz Blackstone and Primavera Phillips are in love and in the money. Lying in the sun on the coast of Spain, Prim and Oz soon discover their new home may not be as idyllic as it seems. Before long, they’re involved in murder and a mystery surrounding the discovery of an unknown Dali masterpiece. Little do they know, they’re about to uncover one of the most amazing stories of the century.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Thriller

314 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 9, 1997

About the author

Quintin Jardine (born 1945) is a Scottish author of three series of crime novels, featuring the fictional characters Bob Skinner, Oz Blackstone, and Primavera Blackstone. He was educated in Motherwell and in Glasgow where he studied at what was then the city’s only University. After career as a journalist, government information officer and media relations consultant, he took to the creation of crime fiction.

His first wife, Irene, with whom he shared over 30 years, from their teens, died in 1997. He is married, to his second wife, Eileen. They live in both Scotland and in Spain

Reviews

[Ljohnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A permanent move to Spain for Oz and Prim. After holiday if for weeks they decide to open a business doing what Oz did before doing inquiries.
But simple business is not in the cards when a body turns up and Oz helps to move it so tourists don’t get spooked but…..his first case links to the body and murder and painting forged.
Prim finds the most unusual new love and Oz can’t stop himself from renewing old loves.
Hat

[Elizabeth Findlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure if I liked the book as did
Or like Oz Good stormy line but a bit unbelievable

[Bronwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oz, what a character. This book is fun and enjoyable just like the first one. I love the twists and turns that it takes and even how you are introduced to new characters all the way through the book.
It is humourous with its real life experiences and pitfalls. Yet it is so much more than that. It delves into subjects such as loyalty and love. And not just the gushy romantic or lustful kind of love that is in so many books these days(although there is some of that too), but the long lasting, deep caring love.
I like the funny bits and even the self deprecating bits, but there is so much more. For me there were parts of profound depth. Questions the characters face cause introspection of my own life.
When a writer can cause my emotions to run the gambit of curiosity, resolve, sadness, and joy all in a matter of pages, I want to tell all my friends about it. And of course to pick up the next book right away!

So start with the first Blackstone book, but don't stop there. I can't wait to see what is next.

[Lbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oz Blackstone is incredible likable, someone we'd all like to meet. He falls in love deeply and maybe a little too easily, and has gone to the warm climates of Spain with Primavera Philips, retiring and enjoying the good life - kind of. A little bored, they fall into an investigation which ranges from their home of Scotland, over to France and back to Spain. The book educated me on Spanish art while Oz worked hard to right wrongs and sort out his private life, which he may or may not succeeded on, the ending is veiled.

I enjoyed this book very much, have read others in the series, and will continue to read the series anytime I can find a new one.

[comfort · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prim and Oz are living THE life in Spain, they are well, off in-love" and have just bought a new villa but they are a tad bored. They are introduced into the ex-pat community and then on to other members of the entourage. Later...
Oz is in Scotland meeting with a friend who wants him to authenticate a new un-documented Dali he has bought at a private auction. It is here that things start to go haywire, not just professionally but privately between Prim and Oz.
This is a really interesting premise about the early life of Dali and his brother and makes you think..what if. It sounds so plausable it could be true.