To Play the Fool

This second Kate Martinelli mystery begins with the cremation of a dog in the park by a group of homeless people. But when the same group attempts the cremation of the dog's owner three weeks later the police are called in. When it is determined that the death was murder, Martinelli and Hawkin are assigned the case.

They have an unidentified victim known only as John, a bunch of homeless witnesses with varying mental illnesses, and a mysterious character known as Brother Erasmus. Brother Erasmus is a beloved character among the homeless and also well-known across the bay at Berkeley's Graduate Theological Union, and among the entertainers at Fisherman's Wharf. He is a man of mystery who only speaks in quotations.

Interviewing him is an show more exercise in frustration for Kate and Al. But as they try to uncover his past, they discover information about the defunct Fools' Movement and a tragic past. There was a lot about the religious implications of being a Fool which was intriguing.

Kate and Lee are still dealing with the aftereffects of Lee's shooting which ended the previous book as Lee is in therapy to overcome her paralysis. Kate had been on leave to help her; this is only her second case since she's been back as an active homicide detective.

The characters were all intriguing. I loved the setting of the story. It was also an engaging mystery. show less

This book was interesting, but I didn’t find it to have as smooth a transition from the first book to this one. The book centers on funeral pyres in Golden Gate Park and the death of homeless people. It is an interesting look at the way homeless people survive and the communities they make among themselves, though I have no idea how accurate King’s descriptions are. The central character, Kate, is getting back into the swing after the near death of her lover and an apparent disastrous case between the one where we met her and the one that makes up the plot of this novel. The descriptions are not as complete as in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes books and this particular volume came across as choppy.

This is my first Laurie King novel. I found lots of things to like about it: the eccentric minor characters, a very moving conclusion and effective denouement, descriptions of San Francisco and Berkeley which brought back my two years living in the Bay area quite vividly, and an engaging protagonist surrounded by a group of colorful and likable people.

Having said all that, I wasn't particularly riveted by the plot as a whole, and I couldn't help but thinking that, if I were ever murdered, I would certainly hoped that the detectives looking for the bad guy would be a bit more comprehensive and a bit less hunch-driven than this investigation. I'm not a big fan of mysteries that in the end are only solved with the benefit of coincidences show more (especially wildly implausible ones). show less

Kate Martinelli is back with a puzzle that is less a murder mystery (which is hardly there at all) and more with a psychological mystery. Erasmus is a truly original character and the dialogue that Ms. King puts in his mouth is delightful in the way it makes the brain think - dragging up memories of Bible and Shakespeare reading. There's less of Kate's emotional life in this novel - just a bit of commentary on how she and Lee are coping with the aftermath of the events of the first novel.

I enjoyed the theology that was woven through a genuinely mysterious story with truly interesting characters. I think Laurie King does a great job of making that all work...This was my first in her Martinelli series, but I look forward to reading more.

Laurie King adds interesting learning experiences to this SF mystery set in the homeless community. A cut above is the dogged pursuit of Inspector Martinelli.

Kate Martinelli is investigating the murder of a homeless man. A person of interest is the other-worldly man who speaks only in quotations and leads the mass of homeless people who seek spirituality. Kate travels through the seamy side of San Francisco, seeking information. She is making some headway with the homeless, as she demonstrates she’s not interested in moving them or just charging one of them with a crime. She develops a sort of admiration for several of the people she talks to. These are talented, artistic people who somehow got lost along the way. When another homeless person’s body is found, some distance from San Francisco, Kate switches gears and begins looking higher up the financial chain for a suspect. Another show more winner from Laurie King. Kate Martinelli’s internal life is a soothing place, both for her and the reader. Kate’s partner figures somewhat less prominently in this outing than in others, but she inadvertently provides the surprise twist at the end. show less