Murder in High Places

Pierre Chambrun Mystery #18

by Andrew Taylor

Very good in very good dust jacket (slight spine slant, some wear to dj at top of spine) Hardcover first edition - New Dodd, Mead,, (1983). Hardcover first edition -. Very good in very good dust jacket (slight spine slant, some wear to dj at top of spine). First US printing. Author's first mystery introducing William Dougall, an "engaging and unprincipled graduate student" and his girlfriend Amanda as they hunt for a cache of diamonds. Awarded the CWA New Blood Dagger. nominated for the Edgar for best first novel, 234 pp.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

234 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"BOOKED FOR DEATH
"Larry Welch, a well-known journalist, is sitting on a story so big, it could lead to international disaster -- or even war. He seeks sanctuary in New York's luxurious Hotel Beaumont to decide his story's fate, throwing legendary manager Pierre Chambrun into the biggest crisis of his career.

"Men in high places want Welch's information. they also want Welch buried along with his secrets. To the end, Bedtsy Ruysdale, Chambrun's invaluable personal secretary and lifelong friend, is kidnapped. Chambrun is order to leave Welch a sitting duck. No cops. No security. Or no more Betsy Ruysdale.

"As a reign of terror sweeps the hotel, Chambrun fears he is about to be an accessory to murder. But will it be Welch's or Betsy's?"
~~back cover

I don't ordinarily read anything but British mysteries, but this one was surprisingly enjoyable. The plot ground slowly along, as seen through the eyes of Mark Haskell, the hotel's public relations man for the last eleven years. Nothing actually happens at first, just the scene and the atmosphere building in tension. And then the first murder. And no clue as to the murderer, or why the well-liked elevator operator was viciously killed. And then the second murder ... and the atmosphere becomes even more fraught.

Imposters uncovered, special forces quietly installed (and actually I thought the special forces might be the one trying to murder Welch), more instructions from the kidnappers ... but where will it all end? Welch or Betsy?

You'll have to read the book to find out.

[Dianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite a dated story, spies and counterspies, but I like an old fashioned mystery.

[Tomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely dated but not a bad mystery…I just wondered why they never suspected the villain earlier.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pierre Chambrun runs the Hotel Beaumont like clockwork--but now his cherished secretary Betsy Ruysdale has been kidnapped by men who want to kill one of the hotel's guests, a reporter who holds secrets that will destroy a treasonous plot against the free nations of the world. Chambrun can't and won't sacrifice the reporter--but he can't make a move that will threaten Betsy either. Then one of the staff is found dead, and Chambrun calls in an old friend to help him.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery, with the 60s-70s flair. I like Hugh Pentacost, though he tends to have heros with war backgrounds and lots of sex--rather male audience I would guess. Yet it's an interesting voice, one in which it is fun to immerse for a while.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed another Chambrun book. More suspense than mystery but entertaining. I'm starting to sense a pattern in Pentecost's stories and guessed the villain well-before clues led me there just because he occupied a similar place that other villains do in other of his stories.

[M.L. Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the Dashiell Hammett style and quick pace.