Mon 2 Jul 2012
Reviewed by Barry Gardner: ALAN RUSSELL – No Sign of Murder.
Posted by Steve under Authors , Reviews[6] Comments
ALAN RUSSELL – No Sign of Murder. Stuart Winter #1. Avon, paperback reprint, 1993. First published by Walker & Co., hardcover, 1990.
I read this out of the library when it came out in 1990. It says something about my memory and the number of mysteries I was reading that I didn’t begin to remember pieces of it until and a number of pages into my re-reading.
Stuart Winter is a San Francisco PI, fallen from the lofty heights of the financial community (and marriage to the daughter of one of its big shots) because of his integrity. He’s a bird-watcher and a Scotch drinker, and describes himself as a “cleaner.”
He is hired by an Oakland socialite to find her deaf daughter, who has been missing now for six months. The family was not a close one, but the mother is convinced she would have heard from her if she was all right. Winter warms her that investigations often turn up unpleasant truths, but she hires him anyway.
I liked the book, and the character, quite a bit/ The supporting cast, including a quirky psychiatrist friend of Winter’s, a deaf friend of the missing girl, and the very interesting voice of Winter’s answering service, were nicely done. The portrait of the missing girl was also very finely drawn.
Russell writes well, and tells a good story. I didn’t believe, however, in the characterization of the murderer, and there was fillip at the end that I found both unpalatable and unnecessary.
All told, this was a good book, and Winter a worthy member of the PI ranks. I’m going to hunt up the second in the series, which I don’t think I’ve read. I wouldn’t bet any huge amount on it, though.
Bibliographic Data: Stuart Winter’s second case was The Forest Prime Evil (Walker, 1992), but that was the end of his career, as far its having been recorded in book form. Russell also wrote two mysteries in a followup series about Am Caulfield, a former surfer turned hotel detective, then four standalone psychological thrillers and suspense novels.
July 2nd, 2012 at 4:54 pm
As a PI, Stuart Winter is so little known that while the Thrilling Detective website has a listing for him, there is no associated profile page.
He came and went with only the two recorded cases. I may have one or the other or both, but I don’t remember either of them. I’d be amazed if I actually read this one, but it does sounds familiar, and as Barry said, sometimes you can surprise yourself.
July 3rd, 2012 at 5:32 am
It ate my comment.
Anyway, I read this and the other Winter book on Barry’s recommendation, along with THE HOTEL DETECTIVE, all in the mid-90s. After that he dropped under my radar I guess, as I haven’t heard anything about him.
I do remember liking this.
July 3rd, 2012 at 9:03 am
Although he doesn’t seem to have been active as a writer lately, Alan Russell has a web page where you can see his photo, contact info, and covers of all his books: http://www.alanrussell.net/
November 26th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Hi,
I happened to do a Google search and came upon this site. Seeing Barry’s name brought a smile to my face. I miss him, and his reviews. I know he liked NO SIGN OF MURDER, but he liked a number of my other novels more (notably MULTIPLE WOUNDS).
I have been writing, and my latest BURNING MAN will be out on December 11th.
Thanks for remembering my first novel. For an author, the first book is like a first love.
All best,
Alan Russell
November 26th, 2012 at 8:26 pm
Hi Alan
I never met Barry in person, but I we had similar tastes in mysteries and I’m not the only one who thought he was the best fan reviewer ever. (I’m in Connecticut and he lived in Texas, way too far apart.) He left us far too soon.
I looked up your latest book on Amazon. I don’t suppose you mind my giving you a plug for it, Here’s a couple of paragraphs describing it:
“LAPD cop Michael Gideon and his police dog partner Sirius became reluctant celebrities after capturing a notorious serial killer in the midst of an inferno. For their heroism, they were chosen to head up the newly formed Special Cases Unit. Now the duo tackles out-of-the- ordinary cases, anything deemed unusual or bizarre even by Hollyweird standards.
“When a teenager is found crucified in a city park, Gideon and Sirius are handed the bizarre case. Confronting the gruesome tableau and having to work the case worsens Detective Gideon’s PTSD, a condition he has tried to hide from others. Gideon’s burns may have healed, but the fire haunts him still…in more ways than one.”
http://www.amazon.com/Burning-Man-Alan-Russell/dp/1612186092
November 27th, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Thanks so much, Steve. I appreciate your kind words and thoughtful review.
All best,
Alan