Shortly after a successful lawyer, Clayton Gladwell, decides to retire, he is murdered in his office, in the evening after the rest of his staff has left for the day. Before the killer left the office, he attempted to burn Gladwell's special blue folders, which the police determine contained information that Gladwell was using to blackmail some of his clients. The police are able to salvage some charred remains from the folders and the search begins for all the clients who had blue folders...
Part of the mystery is tracking down who was being blackmailed and why. Of course, the suspects don't want to reveal damaging facts about themselves. The story behind each folder is interesting, but in some cases it is not clear why the secrets would lead to murder.
This is the third book in the Sigrid Harald series. The story focuses on the murder and the search for the culprit, but Sigrid's background and her life away from work are also part of the story. She is not the typical gorgeous, assured policewoman. She is quiet, shy, serious, and has a cool, reserved demeanor. But the series does show growth and change in the characters. In this story, Sigrid searches for a new apartment that she can afford in New York, with the help of her current roommate, Roman Tramegra. She has a tentative relationship with a well-known artist, Oscar Nauman, who is a good bit older than her. The author achieves a good balance between the mystery plot and the personal aspects of Sigrid's life.
I thought the ending was fairly obvious, or at least the only solution that would make sense, but that in no way spoiled my enjoyment... partly because I always suspect the author is leading me in the wrong direction anyway. It is sort of a sad ending, with some threads left hanging.
It has been nearly six years since I read the 2nd book in this series, and I won't wait that long to read another one. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Margaret Maron's writing. The dialog is very realistic and convincing. The characters are fleshed out and believable. I will continue this series, because I want to see where it takes Sigrid Harald. I may also return to the Deborah Knott series.
The Sigrid Harald series was written (mostly) in the 1980s and the Deborah Knott series started in 1992. A character from Death in Blue Folders, Kate Honeycutt, turns up as a continuing character in the Deborah Knott series. Later in the Deborah Knott series, Sigrid and Deborah meet (in Three Day Town) and they work together in the next novel in the series.
I have also read and reviewed:
One Coffee With (1981)
Death of a Butterfly (1984)
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Publisher: Ocanee Spirit Press, 2013. (orig. publ. 1985)
Length: 203 pages
Format: Trade Paperback
Series: Lt. Sigrid Harald, homicide detective
Setting: New York City
Genre: Mystery, Police Procedural
Source: I purchased this book (in 2013).
16 comments:
I'm glad you enjoyed this one, Tracy. I like Sigrid Harald as a character, and I like the setting, too. It's been a while since I read one of these, so I'm glad you reminded me of this series. I ought to get back to it.
I'm always amazed when I see reviews of books by authors I've never heard of, as is the case here. I tend to think I've heard of every author, which is ridiculous! LOL
Harald is a good character, Margot, and the other continuing characters are interesting too. I look forward to reading more in this series myself.
There are too many authors nowadays to keep up with them all, Cath. Margaret Maron's Judge Deborah Knott series is set in the South (North Carolina) where she grew up and now lives. I did not enjoy it (the first two books) because of that setting. Being from the South, I don't like reading about it (usually). But I really should try it again.
As with your recent choice by Marian Babson, I read a lot of Margaret Maron books in the past, and I did enjoy them. I liked this series better than Deborah Knott in fact. You're making me think I should read her again.
Moira, there was a fabulous scene in this book with Sigrid getting a new long dress for a dance (totally out of character for her) but it was just too long to include. The second book in the series wasn't as good as #1 and this one, which is probably why it took me so long to get to this one, but I am searching for a copy of #4 now.
Tracy, while I read lots of bestselling fiction in the 80s (Robert Ludlum, Jack Higgins, Len Deighton, Jeffrey Archer, Frederick Forsyth, Dick Francis etc.), I hardly read mystery and crime fiction, unless you count James Hadley Chase and Erle Stanley Gardner. So I almost never read (or even heard of) detective fiction by writers such as Margaret Maron; though I have been discovering them in the past few years.
The plot strikes me as a tad gimmicky, but the characterization, especially of Sigrid Harald, intrigues me. I just might give Margaret Maron (I like the name) a shot!
Prashant, I tend to read older mysteries and stay away from new mysteries currently published. Then I re-discover those newer books / authors when I find positive reviews of them. Although I would say lately I have been reading more contemporary authors than before. Margaret Maron was a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master in 2013. One of my goals is to read at least one book by each Grand Master.
Your assessment of the plot is probably correct, Mathew, but it does provide for some interesting side plots. And you are also right about the characterization, which is usually the most important factor for me.
Very cool title!
I was intrigued by your comment above, "Being from the South, I don't like reading about it (usually)." Is that because you want to read about things you know less about, because you feel that typical depictions of the South are flawed, or because of some other reason?
Christophe, that is a good question but hard to answer. I think it is a combination of many things. Mainly I don't like being reminded of what living in the South was like for me, and the attitudes in the South. I am not sure that the southern states are really that much different from the rest of the country deep down, but California felt way different for me when I got here (45+ years ago). Most of the authors I have read who write about the South were also from the South so they can't have been too far off, but it still left me uncomfortable. For me, reading To Kill a Mockingbird was very uncomfortable, not just in the treatment of blacks but also in the treatment and expectations of females.
I hope California has proven to not only feel very different but also be much better to you than the South in which you grew up, Tracy.
Thanks, Christophe, it has.
Glad you liked it, but I can probably pass on this author and her books. There's just too much already to try and get to.
I agree, Col. If you were to enjoy any of her books, the Deborah Knott series since she comes from a bootlegging family. But it has been a long time since I read those so not sure.
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