#CoverCrush The Spook Lights Affair by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini @Marablaise

For new visitors do I want to explain that Cover Crush is something that my friend Erin over at Flashlight Commentary came up with and I adopted the idea together with some other friends. And, now we try to put up a Cover Crush every week. You can check below my pick of the week for their choices this week!

A missing debutante, murder, and spectral lights in the fog make for a thrilling gaslight-era mystery in this sequel to The Bughouse Affair

The Spook Lights Affair -- the latest in the Carpenter and Quincannon historical mystery series from MWA Grandmasters Bill Pronzini and Marcia Muller.

In 1895 San Francisco, young debutantes don't commit suicide at festive parties, particularly not under the eye of Sabina Carpenter. But Virginia St. Ives evidently did, leaping from a foggy parapet in a shimmer of ghostly light. The seemingly impossible disappearance of her body creates an even more serious problem for the firm of Carpenter and Quincannon, Professional Detective Services.

Sabina hadn't wanted to take the assignment, but her partner John Quincannon insisted it would serve as entrée to the city's ultra-rich and powerful. That means money, and Quincannon loves the almighty dollar. Which is why he is hunting the bandit who robbed the Wells, Fargo office of $35,000.

Working their separate cases (while Sabina holds John off with one light hand), the detectives give readers a tour of The City the way it was. From the infamous Barbary Coast to the expensive Tenderloin gaming houses and brothels frequented by wealthy men, Quincannon follows a danger-laden trail to unmask the murderous perpetrators of the Wells, Fargo robbery. Meanwhile, Sabina works her wiles on friends and relatives of the vanished debutante until the pieces of her puzzle start falling into place. But it's an oddly disguised gent appearing out of nowhere who provides the final clue to both cases--the shrewd "crackbrain" who believes himself to be Sherlock Holmes.

Some thoughts about the cover:

When it comes to cover isn't it just the image that's important. The font and borders are also very important. Like with this cover. I have to admit that the title of the book and the surrounding border is the thing that first caught my eyes. It's just the kind of cover that appeals to me.

Check out what my friends have picked for Cover Crush's this week:

Stephanie @ Layered Pages

Heather @ The Maiden's Court

Holly @ 2 Kids and Tired Books

Colleen @ A Literary Vacation

Meghan @ Of Quills & Vellum

Erin @ Flashlight Commentary

#BookReview The Color of Fear by Marcia Muller @GrandCentralPub #Giveaway

The Color of Fear by Marcia Muller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Private investigator Sharon McCone returns in the newest mystery in Marcia Muller's New York Times bestselling series.A knock on the door in the middle of the night. It can only be bad news, and it is: Sharon's father Elwood has been the victim of a vicious, racially-motivated attack. A nationally recognized Shoshone Indian artist, he'd been visiting Sharon for the holidays, browsing for gifts in San Francisco's exclusive Marina district when he was set upon by a mob of angry young men. Now, Elwood lies in a coma, hovering between life and death. With little progress on the investigation from the overworked, short-handed police, Sharon resolves to track down Elwood's attackers and bring them to justice herself. But when Sharon starts receiving hate-filled, racist threats, it's clear that Elwood's attackers aren't planning to come quietly...

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I started to read this book thought it was quite good and decided to check up how many books there are in this series since I'm new to it. The Color of Fear is book 32. Yikes, let's face it there is a lot of history between the characters and here I come stumbling into it and trying to make sense of it all. However, it was not that hard, despite all new names, relationships, and past events. I'm actually a bit impressed that I so easily could get into the story, keep the characters apart and enjoy the book. It's not always that easy when you start with a book with that many books previously published.

The Color of Fear was for me a fast read, it's not a thick book, and the story is pretty straightforward, not a book with many twists or shocking revelations. However, I enjoyed reading it because of its simplicity and interesting families ties with Sharon McCone having two families since she was adopted as a baby. It's a book that made me curious to read more, read the books from the beginning to discover the story from its start.

For me was The Color of Fear a perfect between the books kind of reading. I read it fast, and I quite enjoyed for a moment reading something lighter and I wouldn't mind reading more books in the series.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marcia Muller has written many novels and short stories. She has won six Anthony Awards, a Shamus Award, and is also the recipient of the Private Eye Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award as well as the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award (their highest accolade). She lives in northern California with her husband, mystery writer Bill Pronzini.

WEBSITE: http://www.marciamullerbooks.com
FACEBOOK: @MarciaMullerAuthor

EARLY PRAISE
"Outstanding...[an] exciting climax.” —Publisher's Weekly (STARRED REVIEW)

"Her stories crackle like few others on the mystery landscape.” —San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle

"Muller has created a delicious mixture of adventure, action, altruism, pathos with a touch of humor, and romance thrown in to build a massive base of loyal fans . . . She is one of those rare series authors who never lets her characters grow stale or trite.” —BookReporter.com

"Muller undoubtedly remains one of today's best mystery writers.” —Associated Press

The Color of Fear by Marcia Muller