The Cheshire Cat's Eye

by Marcia Muller

Book Overview

Sharon McCone investigates the murder of her best friend in San Francisco, pursuing a single, valuable clue and becoming, herself, implicated in the murder.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0445408502
• ISBN13: 9780445408500
• Release Date: April 1990
• Publisher: Mysterious Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Death inside a "Painted Lady"

Private eye, Sharon McCone, receives a frantic phone call from a friend, Jake Kaufmann, who paints houses in the Painted Lady district of San Francisco. When she reaches the Victorian house where Jake asks her to meet him, she finds him dead. During her investigation she discovers that there are many special interest groups in the area who might have a motive for murder. There are purists who want the homes restored to their original look and there are those who want to fix them up to sell them by painting them the gaudy colors which became popular in the 60's. Sharon (and the reader) find out about the different kinds of Victorian houses which became popular in San Francisco and also some of the furnishings which go well in the houses. Against this background McCone finally figures out who in the community committed Jake's murders and some others. This is a good mystery from the reliable Marcia Muller.

Another good outing for McCone

"The Cheshire Cat's Eye" is the third book in the Sharon McCone series by Marcia Muller. McCone finds her friend Jake Kaufmann dead in a San Francisco Victorian house that he is restoring by painting it with gaudy colors. The architectural communty is very opposed to these psychedelic houses. There are several suspects, and McCone is one of them. She must investigate, not only to clear her name, but find Jake's killer. Sharon McCone is by far my favorite female PI in detective fiction. Muller's characters are well-drawn, and her books are a pleasure to read. This novel is not as complex as some of her later works, but this is an excellent place to start. If you haven't yet met Sharon McCone, you will be in for a big treat.

A thrilling quick read!

Yet another great job by Muller. This time, she takes us into the world of San Francisco's famous "painted ladies." Ever wonder what secrets those grand old houses kept? The lives, the loves (and of course, the deaths) of one family are told in fantastic detail and originality. As Sharon is closing in on the killer, she sets an simple yet effective trap, and the pages turn quickly! Even if you've never been to SF, Muller's writing style will still place you right at the scene of the crime!