Mysterious Stranger [Mass Market Paperback]

Most of these historical detectives are writers, or other such creative folks. And if you stop and think about it, what qualities especially contribute to the success of a detective of any era, but most especially before the age of technology?

Well, I think it would be perception, acuity, intelligence and a willingness to allow the suspension of disbelief for at least a short period of time. And what are the characteristics most needed by authors? (Other than a thick skin, that is.) Why--perception, acuity, intelligence and a willingness to allow the suspension of disbelief, along with some skill at writing and using the language. I suspect a curiosity bump would come in handy, too! Makes perfect sense to me.

This book is a case in point. Samuel Clemens, whose main fame is as the famous author, Mark Twain, takes his family and his secretary/assistant/man-of-all-work, Wentworth Cabot, to Florence, Italy, for the winter. Clemens is, however, treated rather coolly by the citizens of Florence, their feathers still ruffled over what he'd written about them after his previous visit.

Wentworth uses his spare time to indulge his passion for great art, with which Florence abounds. He also stumbles over a cafe that plays host to other visiting Americans: chess-players, as well as artists of all kinds, from all countries, and a few anarchists mixed in. Not to mention a few anti-anarchists. It's a marvelous mix!

The period detail seems perfectly wonderful as Wentworth describes the leisurely lifestyles enjoyed by his employer and his new-found friends. Murder will, of course, present itself, and it takes a combined effort by Clemens and Cabot, along with several unusual policemen to get to the heart of the matter. They do, in a very satisfactory manner. This is not a fast-paced book, but one that may be easily read--and enjoyed--in shorter doses, if desired.

The Clemens family travels to Florence, Italy, along with Wentworth and he makes friends with people his own age at a café in the heart of the city. He takes a liking to Virginia Fleetwood whose brother-in-law want to hire him to run an art gallery back in Boston for him. She wants Wentworth to accept the position, but he prefers staying with the Clemens brood and rejects the offer. The next day, the police arrive to question Wentworth about the disappearance of Virginia. Also missing is a valuable Raphael masterpiece owned by her brother-in-law. The police find the murdered body of Virginia in a graveyard and next to her strangled corpse is the frame from the Raphael picture. Wentworth is now the chief suspect, leaving it to him and his employer to prove otherwise.

Anyone wanting to see a different perspective on Mark Twain will want to read THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGLER and the previous works in this series. Readers observe the man behind the literary legend because Peter Heck has the ability to provide a lucid look through the media image. The well-drawn mystery provides an interesting amateur sleuth investigation led by Twain into the who-done-it realm. As with the previous novels, this tale retains a freshness that will please historical mystery readers and Mark Twain fans.

Harriet Klausner