Michael Kilian (1939–2005)

Cozy mysteries are not a frequent read for me. However, I am so glad I read The Weeping Woman. Set in the 1920's there are characters that are showy, unique, down-to-earth, interesting and sinister. The leading character, Bedford Green, is a charming lady's man, a gambler, a drinker and owns a struggling art gallery. The plot had me turning pages as fast as I could read them and I never guessed who was the culprit. I didn't even have a guess.

Bedford Green needs to go to France on an art show more buying trip. His assistant, Sloane, receives a post card from a friend who is in France. The picture on the card shows a sad, lonely tearful woman and is signed "Fou" (crazy). The picture is her college friend Polly. She asks Bedford to help her find Polly in France because her intuition tells her something is very, very wrong.

All Polly ever wanted to be was an artist, so they plunge into the art scene in Paris. The trail to find out where Polly is is a long one and takes them all over the countryside. It is also filled with danger and Bedford finds himself on the losing end of a couple of battles.

The story line is a good one with all kinds of leads and possibilities. I highly recommend this book to any mystery fans. This is the first in the Bedford Green mystery series. Michael Kilian also wrote the Dick Tracy comic strip beginning in 1993.

I received this ebook free from the publisher for review purposes. show less

The Civil War is one of my favorite subjects. Murder mysteries is one of my least favorite subjects. However, both of my wives love them (one of them at a time, of course), so I thought if i were to try out this genre, why not read one that takes place during the Civil War? However, the reasons why I avoid murder mysteries was reinforced by this novel - simply, I cannot recognize a clue if I caught Mrs. Peacock red handed with a lead pipe in the library! Also, the action related to the show more Battle of Hampton Roads (aka Monitor vs Virginia/Merrimac) was ok but unoriginal. I enjoyed the fact that the "hero" of the book, Harrison Raines, a Secret Service agent in the employ of the Union, was flawed and frequently drunk, an unusual spin for a good guy, and this is apparently part of a series of such books starring this same character. But truth be told, there is nothing about this book that compels me to want to purchase the other parts of this series. show less

Former newspaper columnist turned art dealer Bedford Green travels from jazz age New York City to Paris to the French Riviera and back again in search of his art gallery partner Sloane Smith's missing aspiring artist friend. Along the way he mingles with some of the most famous artists and writers of the time, who are portrayed thoughtfully and with attention to detail,

The core mystery is expertly written, and the descriptions of people and places involved perfectly compliment the story. show more Having such a large number of well known people in the story could be risky, but Kilian skillfully avoids saccharine idolization.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Nice to meet you, Bedford Green. Looking forward to hearing much more from and about you.

**eARC netgalley** show less

Bedford Green receives an invitation for a weekend visit to the Vanderbilt estate in Newport. It is through his gallery assistant, Sloan. Bedford is suspicious there is a reason more than just being social. Turns out he is right.

The inviting Vanderbilt is interested in getting the gossip on Countess Zala, a supposed Hungarian noble. When Bedford and Sloan arrive at the right Vanderbilt house (seems there is more than one) the interest in getting the gossip on the Countess has disappeared. In show more fact any interest has completely dried up, even when a dead body is found by Bedford during a late night skinny dipping episode. This is very interesting and unusual, as the dead body strongly resembles the Countess.

Bedford and Sloan find that the rich prefer to ignore or silence any and all publicity that could be negative. For the rich, life is too good to be soiled by murder.

In trying to solve this case, Bedford and Sloan find themselves involved with rum runners, Hungarian revolutionaries, murderous family members from high society to middle class. It is quite the cast of characters. And of course it is the Roaring Twenties!

I’m looking forward to finding more books in this series. This is number two! show less