Edwin of the Iron Shoes

Sharon McCone is a private eye working for a legal firm. When one of their clients, an antique dealer, is murdered she is asked to investigate. Working with Lt. Marcus of the SFPD the suspects are narrowed down after a second murder occurs. However, Sharon then realizes that the statue in the antique shop, of the little boy Edwin in a sailor suit and his iron shoes has an important contribution to make to the case.

McCone is called "the founding mother of the contemporary female hard-boiled private eye" by Sue Grafton. If so, then female detectives are a lot less 'hard=boiled' than their male counterparts. Sharon does too much shuddering, trembling and thinking about Lt. Marcus to be called 'hard-boiled'. Perhaps, since the book was show more written in 1977 she was 'hard-boiled' for the time... show less

Mystery writers as skillful as Sara Paretsky and as mediocre as Sue Grafton give Marcia Muller credit for being the pioneer of the female hard-boiled private investigator. Even in her first novel, "Edwin of the Iron Shoes" (1977), Muller deftly narrates a fast-paced story. Though as long as 178 pages, it reads fast like a short Simenon. PI Sharon McCone investigates for the All Souls legal services cooperative in San Francisco. Antique dealer Joan Albritton has been slashed to death. McCone pokes around Joan’s neighborhood which has an assortment of dealers of antiques and junk. Muller effectively captures the edgy mood of McCone staking out the victim’s shop at night. Other plusses: not too much local color (readers don’t care if show more they don’t live there or haven't visited), lots of personality and life’s usual messes. show less

I had read this book back in the 80s and forgotten it. Great mystery and the introduction to Sharon McCone. Sharon is working for Hank Zahn's firm and is called to investigate the death of antique shop's owner. While doing an inventory of Joan's stock, there's another break-in and another murder, It's Sharon introduction to the handsome policeman, Greg, and a fun look back at the 80's San Francisco. Edwin is a small boy wood mannequin who is wearing iron shoes that have been bolted to the floor.

It's Sharon McCone's first case as staff investigator for All Souls Legal Cooperative. She knows nothing about antiques, yet she has an affection for Salem Street with its charming mix of antique and curio shops. Now elderly dealer Joan Albritton has been found dead, stabbed with an antique dagger.

Her neighbors are shocked. Recurring vandalism has them frightened. Ferreting out the facts will take Sharon from the chaotic jumble of the junk dealer's establishment to a museum where San Francisco's most elegant socialites gather. But it is not until she is alone in Joan's dark shop with Clothilde, the headless dressmaker's dummy; Bruno, the stuffed German shepherd; and Edwin, the little boy mannequin in the ornate iron shoes that she will show more have the chance to discover the murderous secret someone will kill -- and kill again -- to keep. show less

Very strong effort introducing the Sharon McCone character. Good story, well-drawn characters and an ending that wasn't telegraphed. Established a good foundation for the series.

This is the 1st of the Sharon McCone books. I discovered it while waiting for a friend at a community college library. I was so enthralled I made her check it out for me, I hadn’t enrolled yet, the class I wanted was full.
Private Eye Sharon McCone is hired by All Souls Cooperative, a San Francisco legal services provider, to discover who is vandalizing a small street of antique shops. When one of the antique dealer is found in her shop murdered, Sharon doesn’t feel confident in the poliice’s ability to discover the killer, especially since the patronizing Lieutenant Marcus is in charge of the case. After he dismisses the work she has done so far, without even looking at it, Sharon decides she must investigate.
Naturally she is show more barred from the crime scene and naturally she manages to sneak in, some of the street cops are her buddies. She is strangely attracted to a little boy mannequin with strange iron shoes that Joan Albright kept in her shop, across from the cash register. Sharon know that Joan talked to the mannequin freqently and she just feels there is something about this object that is relevant.
Suspects abound and Lt. Marcus is not happy with her and tries to block her investigation. As Sharon comes closer to solving the case, she also comes close to becoming a victim herself. show less

Marcia Muller is called the first of the female writers of hard boiled PI stories. precursor to Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone, VI War of Sarah Paretsky and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum.

Whilst Mullar is this side of Agatha Christie, Mullar is no Sam Spade etc

But non the less, definitely worth a look. Edwin is the only book I have by her so will have to keep an eye out for more examples ( but am pleased I started with the first on the series ) .

You get the sense that the series has room to grow

Big Ship
31 August 2014