Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #46763 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-21
• Released on: 2009-07-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780312379421
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Set in 1893, a few weeks after the events of 2008's The Black Dove, Hockensmith's excellent fourth mystery to feature Otto Big Red Amlingmeyer and his older brother, Gustav (aka Old Red), takes them to San Marcos, Tex. The laconic Old Red, whose life took an unexpected turn after his brother introduced him to the deductive methods of Sherlock Holmes, reveals that the love of his life, hooker Gertrude Eichelberger, was murdered in San Marcos five years earlier. The pair's efforts to investigate put them at odds with the local pimps as well as the law. The brothers discover that Gertrude was but the first victim of a serial killer, who modeled his crimes after Jack the Ripper. The personal stake Old Red has in catching the murderer adds an emotional dimension to the puzzle, which Edgar-finalist Hockensmith nicely leavens with witty prose and cliffhanging chapter endings. Author tour. (July)
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Review
"Hockensmith will have a steady readership as long as the Amlingmeyers are on the case." - Booklist (starred review) on HOLMES ON THE RANGE."

About the Author

Customer Reviews

Completes the quartet
Steve Hockensmith continues an excellent series. I hope there are more.

This is a tale of long-lost love -- and the attempt to redeem it from its rather squalid beginnings. Here we have the Amlingmeyers returning to San Marcos, TX, where, it was revealed in the previous book in the series, Gustav "Old Red" Amlingmeyer met and fell in love with a "soiled dove," who died mysteriously, which ultimately sent "Old Red" and his brother "Big Red" on the precursor events to this book.

Fast, witty, intriguing, and a hoot to boot. This book very much concludes the first four in the series. I would hope to see another four.

Highly recommended.

amusing late nineteenth century whodunit
In 1893, a few weeks have passed since the Amlingmeyer "Reds", Otto "Big Red" and his older brother Gustav "Old Red", dropped into egg drop soup in San Francisco (see BLACK DOVE). Old Red tells Big Red about the love of his life being murdered in an unsolved crime five years ago. Big Red insisting they are Sherlock Holmes level experts ever since they worked the Southern Pacific a few months ago (see ON THE WRONG TRACK) suggests they go to San Marcos, Texas to solve the case of who murdered Gertrude Eichelberger.

The Reds arrive in San Marcos and begin their investigation with the local brothels as Gertrude was a hooker. Their inquiries upset the madams, pimps, and law enforcement types, but they refuse to back down. The brothers soon realize that Gertrude's murderer is a Texas Jack the Ripper having killed several hookers. Although Old Red has the need for closure by catching his beloved's killer, Big Red has his back every step of the way.

As always with the Reds, fans receive an amusing late nineteenth century whodunit starring heroes who poorly employ the techniques of Sherlock Holmes to their investigation. Fans will enjoy their latest escapades as everything is personal this time (not to say being shot at is not personal). With a great story line THE CRACK IN THE LENS is a super entry in a terrific western mystery saga that in its off beat way pays homage to the great detective.

Harriet Klausner

Through a lens, darkly
Each of Steve Hockensmith's four _Holmes on the Range_ books does something different. _The Crack in the Lens_ is more realistic, grittier, and much darker than any of the previous volumes. Even Big Red's trademark smartass narration gets a tad subdued in spots.

This isn't a a drawing-room mystery; it's a descent into dark places. There's a hint of Carr's _The Alienist_ here, maybe even a little _The Silence of the Lambs_. The shift adds visceral impact, but it makes the book less fresh and original than its predecessors. I must admit that I personally have had my fill of this plot; it veers toward a cliche, although setting it in the Old West is at least a shock.

Nonetheless, this is a rather ambitious book. Starting with the title, _The Crack in the Lens_ sets up a conflict between intellect and emotion, reason and faith. It doesn't entirely resolve the conflict, however. For instance, a couple of the characters make some pronouncements that really demand to be either affirmed or refuted. (They're not sympathetic characters, although--give Hockensmith credit for this--one of them turns up on the side of the good guys at a crucial point.) Even the climax is a bit ambiguous in that regard: it's as much a flash of intuition as it is logical deduction. To put it another way, this book shifts noticeably towards the real world, where things are lot messier than in the classical mystery.

It helps that, for the first time, the Amlingmeyer boys have a personal stake in the outcome. No longer are they agents of an abstract justice, or simply feeling the bite of ambition. This added dimension allows Hockensmith to sharpen up his philosophical point and display some deeper characterization. And there's still impeccable research, fast pacing, action, vivid period color, and some laugh-out-loud funny bits. If you're new to the series, though, I'd mildly suggest not starting here; _The Crack in the Lens_ will have more impact if you're already familiar with Our Heroes beforehand.

Hockensmith is taking a considerable risk here, for which I commend him. By taking this bleaker tack, he may alienate fans of his earlier books. Me, I'm not alienated--heck, I'm impressed by his chutzpah. I still plan to buy the next one the day it comes out.

Some of the charm is gone. Whether the extra realism and ambition make up for that is your call. Buy the book and find out.