published January 26, 2016
Forge Books
This fourth entry in the Carpenter and Quincannon mystery series finds the PI partners working apart on their own whodunits. Set in 1890s San Francisco this light series is as much about time and place as it is about the mysteries. Period slang and turns of phrase are liberally used by former Secret Service agent and temperance man John Quincannon. More formal in speech is his partner (in the strictest sense of the word, not for lack of trying on Quincannon’s part) Sabina Carpenter, former Pinkerton agent.
Carpenter is providing security for an exhibit of pricey purses (amusingly titled “Reticules Through the Ages”) rumored to be targeted by thieves. Quincannon meanwhile has his hands full working trying to discover who was willing to kill for a brewery’s highly-sought steam beer recipe. The back and forth between the two cases is ably handled by Muller and Pronzini.
A particular quirk of this series is that the world of Carpenter and Quincannon is one in which Sherlock Holmes exists – off the page. In each title they have received – unbidden – assistance from Holmes, who is supposedly biding his time in San Francisco while the wider world thinks he died at Reichenbach Falls. Quincannon barely conceals his irritation at the so-called “crackbrain” but Carpenter has been a little more indulgent – after all, he has been a genuine help on occasion. Then a Chicago man shows up at the office claiming Holmes is really his delusional cousin, and Carpenter agrees to help locate the supposed detective.
While more interaction between Carpenter and Quincannon would have been welcome, this is still a satisfying read. “The Plague of Thieves Affair,” and others in this series, are an excellent recommendation for fans of light historical mystery, and old-fashioned “locked room” puzzlers.
An advance galley of this book was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion.
