The Marx Sisters

My wonderful Goodreads friend from Down Under, Magda, never leads me wrong! She recommended an entire list of Australian writers, and Fergus Hume's The Mystery of a Hansom Cab proved to be excellent.

Well, that was not a fluke. Another of Magda's recommendations, the Kolla and Brock mystery series, really excels! How good? I was reading this London-based police procedural while I ran computer diagnostics, and I came home late from work because I literally couldn't put it down until I'd gotten to the very last page -- long after I'd done with work! Written by the Scottish-born Barry Maitland, who has resided in Australia for decades, The Marx Sisters follows an investigation that pairs up-and-coming CID Detective Sergeant Kathy Kolla with show more a Scotland Yard old hand, David Brock. Despite red herrings galore, Maitland plays fair with readers who, nevertheless, will remain unlikely to puzzle out the identity of the murderer of a 70-something-year-old widow, Meredith Winterbottom, who is battling to remain in the apartment building at 22 Jerusalem Lane where she and her two sisters reside. Suspects range from the developers who are dead set on clearing Jerusalem Lane to Meredith's neighbors (who were less than thrilled with the neighborhood's overbearing resident do-gooder and busybody) to Meredith's own unscrupulous son. Maitland creates memorable dialogue and some wonderful plot twists. No sooner are you certain that you've figured out the murder than another culprit seems inevitable. The suspense builds and builds right to the last few pages.

I've already ordered the next three books in the series -- The Malcontenta, All My Enemies and The Chalon Heads. My only regret? That I didn't order them in time so that I could begin The Malcontenta as soon as I finished The Marx Sisters. show less

There is a strong academic and booklover’s flavor to this detective story plot which seems more obviously centred on the dynamic of the young, driven-but-insecure Inspector Kathy Kolla and the brilliant-but-perhaps-unfulfilled Chief Inspector Brock. The sharply drawn portraits of unhappy, questing academics raises the question whether Maitland might know whereof he speaks. There is great passion in the characters, and some genuine though by no means comfortable emotion. In fact, almost every character has flaws, and none are portrayed at all sympathetically. The setting of Jerusalem Lane, a ramshackle vestige of a London village, being torn down for a modern development might in a way be a metaphor, but one that is not overplayed, show more which allows the reader to make up his own mind about what is being lost and what gained. The introduction of Poincare’s creativity model as a theme for ultimately resolving the case is neat, but coming as late as it does in the book makes it seem like an afterthought. All in all an excellent work, with depth and richness of characters that bodes well for other stories. show less

This was an odd book. Its setting in Jerusalem Lane seemed almost timeless, although presumably it was intended to be set around 1994. I liked the detectives, Kathy and Brock, and there was a charm to the narrative. It did go on a little long though, and then at the end Kathy, not once but twice, puts herself in danger in the way women feel compelled to do in novels, requiring rescue.

I will continue with this series.

Thoroughly enjoyable mystery. The characters, both detectives and suspects, were interesting and the plot was not too convoluted and not too easy. I began to suspect the murderer but never the final reasons. The ending did have that "Don't Go Downstairs" plot twist but still was well done. Here is a hint, when given an offstage drink by a potential murderer, don't drink it.

One of the better mysteries I've read in awhile with intelligent, friendly, engaging characters. Good timing and dialogue. Surprising twists and turns enhance a solid mystery into a must read.

The Marx Sisters is the first of the Brock/Kolla mysteries and one of the more difficult for me to track down. I finally located a copy in Kinokuniya, Sydney but discovered more recently that most of the series is available as e-books.

If you’re familiar with the series (I only have two more books to read), you’ll know that they can be read out of order without problems (except keeping up with who Kathy is seeing). Being familiar with the more recent books in the series though, I could sense that this book was a little grittier, a little more rough around the edges but I liked that. It was a bit more graphic, a few more swear words but that didn’t bother me at all.

What was different about this book was that it was split into two show more parts – one for each murder of the sisters (dubbed the ‘Marx’ sisters due to their beliefs). Kathy isn’t working directly with Brock at this time, but Brock joins her investigation as an elderly lady is murdered at home in Jerusalem Lane, ‘a little piece of Dickensian London’ where the developers are about to rear their heads. Meredith’s death can’t be solved, but when her sister dies as well, more secrets about the Lane and its inhabitants are revealed. The conclusion was a nice surprise too- I didn’t suspect the murderer!

I do enjoy Barry Maitland’s books and I’ll be disappointed when I’ve read them all. They’re a well written series about homicide detectives in London, not overly gory and well thought out. show less

Entertaining tale involving the first case shared by Kathy Kolla and David Brock. I am not a big fan of alternative history plot lines, so I am not impressed with the Karl Marx connection. The hint at an historical London neighborhood was interesting. But the twists and turns and the outcome was a little predictable. I may seek the sequels.