Mystery: Amazon.ca: Peter Straub: Books

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

In a meaty tribute to mystery sub-genres, Straub ( Ghost Story ) serves up a coming-of-age tale, a country-manor murder mystery and a twisted knot of governmental corruption and cover-up. Ten-year-old Tom Pasmore, a rich resident of the Caribbean island of Mill Walk, is hit by a car and, in a near-death experience, sees visions of himself in the future. During his long recuperation, Tom reads mystery stories brought to him by Lamont von Heilitz, an eccentric neighbor, once a famous detective. Action resumes when Tom, now aged 17 and possessed of sharpened deductive skills, gives the police an anonymous tip to help them solve the murder of a government official's sister. Tom's tip backfires, motivating him to join Lamont in trying to solve a murder that took place 20 years earlier in the Wisconsin resort town where Mill Walk's privileged citizens spend their summers. That layered, complex case reveals a long history of corruption, leads to more murders, to realization of the meaning of Tom's early visions and his discovery of his true identity. While evocative of place and time (the early '60s) and peopled with memorable characters, the story tries to fit into too many subgenres to succeed completely at any one. $200,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Chicago Sun-Times

Mesmerizing. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

20 Reviews

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

3.8 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Blue Rose part 2, Jul 5 2004

By	Vagabond77 (Tennessee, USA) - See all my reviews

Ce commentaire est de: Mystery (Paperback)

Tom Pasmore is the central focus in Peter Straub's second Blue Rose book, "Mystery". It is just that; a very multi-layered intricate murder mystery surrounding a family on a small island in the Caribbean. During the middle 1960s, 17-year-old Tom is very curious about the murder of a woman who is rumored to be a local politcian's mistress. After that, he is approached by local excentric Lamont von Heilitz to help with the murder of Tom's own sister years before. Soon afterward Tom is sent to Wisconsin by his grandfather and begins investigating a murder up there many years before. Without giving too much away, all these murders are connected. This was a great book, even though I read "The Throat" first by mistake and already knew what the outcome was. But that hardly mattered; it was the details that was so fascinating. Tom Pasmore and Lamont von Heilitz (who is claimed to be the basis for 'The Shadow', the popular radio show at that time) seem very well drawn out, and I liked them both a lot. The only down point is the other characters, they are very one dimentional and shallow. But that is okay. The story and murders are very interesting, it will keep you turning the pages until the very end.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Best of the Trilogy, Jun 19 2004

By	Linda "katknit" (CT, United States) - See all my reviews

Ce commentaire est de: Mystery (Paperback)

I've never understood why Straub is considered a horror writer. His books can be arcane, mystical, compelling, and mysterious, but gruesome or frightening I've never found them to be. "Mystery" is his best, IMHO. Tom and his grandfather Lamont experience an immediate, subliminal meeting of mind and spirit, though Tom does not become cognizant of their kinship for quite some time. I have to confess to some confusion in some sections of the plot, but it plays itself out with subtlety and holds one's interest to the end. Intriguing.

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2.0 out of 5 stars Quite Poor..., Aug 26 2003

By	F. Byrne (Eastern Caribean) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ce commentaire est de: Mystery (Paperback)

I did not enjoy this book. The characters are weak, the story line is unfullfilling and never really resolves satisfactrorly. A number of issues are never completely explained. Very difficult to empaphise with the main character. The island of Mill Walk in the Caribbean is completely unlike any island that exists in the region. A very poor try at a mystery, unimaginative, uninspired, watse of time.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars I Know What You Are...
Every once in a while you read a book that absolutly floors you. Mystery, the second book in Peter Straub's Blue Rose trilogy, does just that. Lisez davantage

Published on Dec 27 2002 by Ben De Bono

4.0 out of 5 stars The Shadow Knows!
Of Straub's "Blue Rose" murder mystery trilogy, this middle entry is probably my favorite, though The Throat is his best. Lisez davantage

Published on May 22 2002 by Bruce Rux

5.0 out of 5 stars a truly beautiful and amazing story
Tom's childhood was far from perfect, but he was one of the lucky few who had a magical life. If you are one of those of us who feel that our childhoods were some how magical,... Lisez davantage

Published on Jan 22 2002 by andi_hawke

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the richest and most haunting stories ever written
The "hook" with Peter Straub's novel was that a popular horror author has written a book titled "mystery". Had the author changed genres? Lisez davantage

Published on Feb 23 2001 by chadwriter