Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
St Martins Press (1987), Edition: 1st, 208 pages
Description
As she looks for a missing taxi driver, Carlotta's investigation sends her traveling the pub route with a bunch of blarney-loving geezers whose devotion to the Emerald Isle has gotten them involved in a deadly mix of Boston-Irish politics.
User reviews
LibraryThing member krsball
Good author, fun series about a female PI in Boston.
LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
In the latter half of the 1980s crime fiction experienced an eruption of tough, bright, resolute and engaging female private detectives, such as Sara Paretsky’s V I Warshwski, Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone, and Val McDermid’s Kate Brannigan. One of the finest, though less celebrated than her
A Trouble of Fools is the first outing for Carlotta Carlyle. Although already established as a private eye, as the book opens we sense that business is far from brisk for Carlotta. She does, however, soon acquire a case when she is retained by the highly respectable Margaret Devens to find her missing, and rather less respectable brother, Gene. Ms Devens sought out Carlotta because her brother had been a cab driver, employed by Green and White, one of Boston’s many taxi firms. For whom Carlotta herself had worked during night shifts while a student. We learn that Carlotta had subsequently joined the police before leaving to go solo, disaffected equally by the mindless regulation and Neanderthal attitudes that she encountered.
Gene Devens’s disappearance is unexpected because he had, thitherto, been conspicuous solely for his orthodoxy. He had driven his cab, gone for a quick drink with his colleagues once his shift was over, and then gone home. Initially perplexed, Carlotta digs more deeply and gradually uncovers another side to Gene’s life, and that of several of his colleagues at Green and White Cabs, rooted in a difficult and emotive past.
Carlotta is certainly and well-drawn character, and the plot is well constructed, rooted in plausibility. A very enjoyable opening to what I hope is an engaging series.
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peers, was the cab-driving and aspiring guitarist, Carlotta Carlyle, created by Linda Barnes.A Trouble of Fools is the first outing for Carlotta Carlyle. Although already established as a private eye, as the book opens we sense that business is far from brisk for Carlotta. She does, however, soon acquire a case when she is retained by the highly respectable Margaret Devens to find her missing, and rather less respectable brother, Gene. Ms Devens sought out Carlotta because her brother had been a cab driver, employed by Green and White, one of Boston’s many taxi firms. For whom Carlotta herself had worked during night shifts while a student. We learn that Carlotta had subsequently joined the police before leaving to go solo, disaffected equally by the mindless regulation and Neanderthal attitudes that she encountered.
Gene Devens’s disappearance is unexpected because he had, thitherto, been conspicuous solely for his orthodoxy. He had driven his cab, gone for a quick drink with his colleagues once his shift was over, and then gone home. Initially perplexed, Carlotta digs more deeply and gradually uncovers another side to Gene’s life, and that of several of his colleagues at Green and White Cabs, rooted in a difficult and emotive past.
Carlotta is certainly and well-drawn character, and the plot is well constructed, rooted in plausibility. A very enjoyable opening to what I hope is an engaging series.
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LibraryThing member asxz
I might have picked this up as it was the first in a series about a female PI, written by a woman. Not a terrible shout. In and out in under 220 pages with some nice detecting and a messy ending. Not sure I'll rush out to read the next in the series, but a nice alternative to Parker's Boston books,
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even if the writing doesn't have quite the same zing. Show Less
LibraryThing member AQsReviews
The main character grows on you. She seems to be a really good balance between messy and disorganized and functional and efficient. If she was too one way or the other, I think she would have been a lot less likeable.
The main character owns a cat. And a bird. These are always story enhancements.
The
The storyline was sufficient - the author actually surprised me with her skill in tying the threads into one cogent and reasonable plot. I also am going to give an extra star of appreciation to the climactic scene wherein a surprise "player" is actually the one to deal with the bad guy. I am impressed because I did not see that coming and it is both fitting and interesting.
I think the author knew when to wrap this story up; it doesn't go on needlessly and it ends when it needs to.
The main character owns a cat. And a bird. These are always story enhancements.
The
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story takes place in Boston in the 1980s. Some of the most amusing elements are when the characters have to use phones! Hey - landlines, PAY PHONES.The storyline was sufficient - the author actually surprised me with her skill in tying the threads into one cogent and reasonable plot. I also am going to give an extra star of appreciation to the climactic scene wherein a surprise "player" is actually the one to deal with the bad guy. I am impressed because I did not see that coming and it is both fitting and interesting.
I think the author knew when to wrap this story up; it doesn't go on needlessly and it ends when it needs to.
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Subjects
Awards
Edgar Award (Nominee — Novel — 1988)
Anthony Award (Nominee — Novel — 1988)
Shamus Award (Shortlist — 1988)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1987
Physical description
208 p.
ISBN
0312011008 / 9780312011000