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Mary Anne Kelly

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Park Lane South, Queens (The Claire Breslinsky Mysteries) Kindle Edition

by Mary Anne Kelly (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.0 47 ratings

Book 1 of 4: The Claire Breslinsky Mysteries

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Home for the first time in a decade, a photographer is sucked into a murder investigation

Claire dozes in the hammock on the front porch of her family home in Queens, baking in the early morning heat, and hardly glances up when a car drives by. Ten years ago, she lost her brother, a rookie cop who made the mistake of trying to reason with a mugger, and she left home to travel the world. Now she is back, camera in hand. The children of the Breslinsky household—a cop, a photographer, a journalist, and a strange little boy—live in a state of carefully controlled chaos. But something is about to throw the whole neighborhood into complete disarray, the Breslinskys included.

The body of a young boy is found in the woods, molested, beaten, and murdered. Claire may have seen the killer driving away, and her search for him will put her family directly in the line of fire.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This delightful debut introduces a modern yet traditional New York City family--Stan and Mary Breslinsky and their three daughters: acclaimed photographer Claire, police officer Zinnie and fashion columnist Carmela, plus Zinnie's four-year-old son Michaelaen. All live in the peaceful family home in the Richmond Hill area of Queens, where Claire has recently returned after having worked for years in Europe and Asia. The neighborhood loses its tranquility, however, when a young boy is murdered and mutilated. With her photographer's eye for detail, Claire becomes involved in the investigation, meeting detective Johnny Benedetto, who falls for her. Claire's cameras (perhaps containing incriminating photos) are stolen; another child is killed. Friends and neighbors become suspects, including Zinnie's ex-husband, a restaurateur; a local woman thought to be a witch; and a U.N. diplomat living nearby who shows a sudden interest in all three sisters, particularly Claire. There are disturbing indications that Michaelaen knows something about the deaths--and then he disappears. Kelly escalates the suspense while demonstrating an unerring sense for the nuances of family and other relationships.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In this provocative and entertaining but only marginally mysterious first novel, the search for a child murderer plays second fiddle to the everyday lives of a rather bizarre family. Soon after Claire Breslinsky, world wanderer and photographer, joins her two divorced sisters--one a flamboyant fashion journalist, the other an efficient policewoman with four-year-old son--at their parents' home, an old man discovers the mutilated body of a child in nearby woods. This and a subsequent murder, however, remain peripheral to familial jostlings as Claire "finds" herself. Somewhat slapdash at times, but redeemed by the characters and the affecting ending.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00TUPLQJU
Publisher ‏ : ‎ MysteriousPress.com/Open Road (April 14, 2015)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 14, 2015
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4209 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 200 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,624,734 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #11,160 in Amateur Sleuth Mysteries (Kindle Store)
- #26,495 in Cozy Mystery
- #30,552 in Women Sleuths (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.0 47 ratings

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4 out of 5

47 global ratings

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Gerania

The Human Condition

Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

In the third chapter the POV settles into mostly that of protagonist Claire, which would normally be my preference, but her labyrinthine inner dialogue eventually became exasperating. I didn’t skim, though, because the writing is too wonderful to miss: languid and lyrical with unconventional turns of phrase and fertile imagery. The story is full of truisms about the human condition: how a normally attentive adult’s brush-off of a demanding child can have catastrophic repercussions and the occasional dire consequences of rationalizing unease. The characters’ flaws aren’t just cute, as when white Claire refers to a black person as a “coon” in a pathetic attempt to create affinity with her sister, who instead rightfully smacks Claire down. The tolerance with which Claire’s generally blue-collar community accepts the misfit back into their midst ~ an impecunious, bohemian, world-traveling artist ~ resonates with me as an alternative to the polarization I see in the real world. Not that hard working people around her weren’t baffled and sometimes resentful about Claire’s seemingly self-indulgent unconventional life. I’ll be interested to see if Kelly can convince me in the next book that the romance towards which Claire seems to be catapulting isn’t a mistake. As it is, I see them becoming one of those mismatched couples whose sex life is the only thing keeping them together. Happily, the crimes’ perpetrator came as a surprise to me.

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Harrie Louise

As other reviewers mention, the author superbly evokes a ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2018

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As other reviewers mention,the author superbly evokes a sense of place. Her work misses being 'literary' at the highest level by virtue of following light threads of mystery and romance. But this is what I found most enjoyable in that the story is very well written while providing a bit of escapism. An extremely pleasurable read.

One person found this helpful

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Nicola

Loved this book!

Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2016

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This is a really good book for many reasons. The writer's style is clear and entertaining without overworking the adjectives. My favorite part was the way the family dog played a big part in telling the story. You don't have to be a dog lover to enjoy this book. It is not cutesy. Good mystery with a satisfying ending. Good reading all the way through.

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

It seemed like there was a lot going on but the story ...

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2016

Verified Purchase

The most interesting character in the book is a dog. It seemed like there was a lot going on but the story didn't really seem to progress and it felt like the mystery was "solved" all of sudden because it was time to end the book. And the portions of the book dealing with the main character's romantic woes - just painful to read.

4 people found this helpful

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LESLIE VANDENBURG

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2016

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It was ok. I knew the area thats y i wantd to read it

One person found this helpful

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Darrel Drumm

Some families are more interesting than others.

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2009

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A disjointed murder mystery. The books is mostly in the mind of Claire, a "returned-home" photographer and the Mayor--the family dog. Mayor may be the most normal member of the family. An interesting book.

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Do you know your neighbors?

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2015

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This mystery is for grown ups. Our families often don't really know us. We may think we know what is best for them, but how can we? This has an interesting pet aside.

One person found this helpful

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Donna

Before you Go

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2015

Verified Purchase

Loved this mystery for the characters introduced. Family interaction and then a huge surprise ending! All in all a satisfying read