The Flimflam Affair: A Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery

by Bill Pronzini Narrated by Meredith Mitchell, Mark Peckham

Overview

The Flimflam Affair is the latest charming historical mystery in Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Bill Pronzini's detective series.

Carpenter and Quincannon Professional Detective Services is now a fixture in San Francisco at the dawn of a new century. Sabina and John will protect their clients, doing what is necessary to run the dregs of society into the arms of the law. Sometimes that involves brute force. And then there are cases where a more subtle touch is needed.

Professor A. Vargas, medium extraordinaire, and his partner Annabelle don't use picks to open locked doors, and most certainly don't use violence to get what they want. Instead they prey upon hopes and fears to swindle bereaved patrons.

And so John and Sabina find themselves in a dusky room, preparing to take the lying duo down.

It is then that a knife flashes, and our detectives must discover who is conning whom ... before they themselves are dispatched.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

01/14/2019

MWA Grand Master Pronzini smoothly juggles several story lines in the rollicking seventh mystery featuring late-19th-century San Francisco detectives Sabina Carpenter and John Quincannon (after 2018’s The Bags of Tricks Affair), each of whom is tasked with solving an impossible crime. John heads out to a mining town to discover how a burglarproof safe containing $10,000 in gold dust and bullion was breached, while Sabine must unmask a charlatan who preys on the desperate relatives of those who have “passed over.” These cases are sophisticated brain-teasers: all the clues are clearly presented for any reader who wishes to try to beat the detectives to the solutions. Both detectives then tackle a counterfeiting scheme involving an old nemesis of John’s, one he thought long dead. Add to that the delicately balanced romance/non-romance of the main characters (spiced up with the age-old battle of the sexes), and there’s more than enough to satisfy readers looking for a fast, fun escape from their daily cares. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary. (Jan.)

From the Publisher

Praise for the Carpenter and Quincannon Series:

“...there's more than enough to satisfy readers looking for a fast, fun escape from their daily cares.”—Publishers Weekly on The Flimflam Affair

“This fast-moving novel offers plenty of fun.”—Publishers Weekly on The Bags of Tricks Affair

“Four stars. The plotting is great fun.”—Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine on The Plague of Thieves Affair

“Those who enjoy historical mysteries are in for a particular treat with this delightful new series featuring two intrepid detectives who solve their cases using different but equally effective methods.” —Booklist on The Bughouse Affair

"Readers will enjoy the historical details as they ponder the cases and wonder about the Carpenter-Quincannon relationship."—Booklist on The Body Snatchers Affair

"Historical mystery readers will enjoy this well-researched story from a pair of always reliable genre veterans."—Booklist on The Spook Lights Affair

"A doubly impossible crime only adds to the enjoyable plot"—Publishers Weekly on The Bughouse Affair

“An intriguing mystery.”—Publishers Weekly on The Spook Lights Affair

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169840896
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	01/15/2019
Series:	Carpenter and Quincannon Mysteries , #7
Edition description:	Unabridged

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