Take Out by Margaret Maron Series: Sigrid Harald #9
Genres: Mystery
Length: 7 hours, 11 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm
Sigrid is still reeling from the untimely death of her lover, acclaimed painter Oscar Nauman, when she is called to investigate the deaths of two homeless men in the West Village. The police at first assume an overdose, until they realize that one of the men shows no signs of drug use. Then when containers of poisoned takeout food are found nearby, Sigrid's case is suddenly much more complicated. As Sigrid investigates, she uncovers an intriguing neighborhood history: a haughty mafia widow and her disgraced godson, a retired opera star with dark secrets, an unsolved hit-and-run, and the possible discovery of a long-missing painting that will rock the art world. Soon the case is fraught with myriad suspects and motives. Who killed the two homeless men, and why? And which one was the intended victim? Or was the poisoned food meant for someone else entirely?
Throwing herself into the murder investigation to distract herself from her personal grief, Sigrid still can't stop wondering what led Nauman across the country to the winding mountain road that took his life. Until she meets a man who may hold the answers she seeks.
I read the first eight books in the Sigrid Harald series in the late 1990s, when I was still reading primarily mysteries. I’d fallen in love with Margaret Maron’s Deborah Knott series and went on to this series. The 8th book was published in 1995, so I was delighted to see a new book this year, more than 20 years later!
Sigrid Harald is a very distinct character which makes her all the more authentic and memorable. She is a police detective in New York City working on homicide cases. I was surprised to find even after all this time I remembered details of her life and the stories. Maron has a real way with characters and plot. This series is a police procedural format.
In Take Out, Sigrid has her work, but also ends up in a personal investigation into her fiance’s death. Her work case is intriguing as she delves into the oddest details to get to the truth. The same perseverance into previously unknown facts unfold into a whole facet of her fiance’s life she didn’t know.
Courtney Patterson did a great job with the narration. She kept me engaged in the story and was easy to understand. She gave the cool reserve to Sigrid’s voice which was perfect.
Take Out was my first time to hear any of the series on audio. I’d love to revisit the entire series by listening on audio. It was highly enjoyable.
Listen to a clip here:
About Margaret Maron
Born and raised in central North Carolina, Margaret Maron lived in Italy before returning to the USA where she and her husband now live. In addition to a collection of short stories she’s also the author of 16 mystery novels. Her works have been translated into seven languages her Bootlegger’s Daughter, a Washington Post Bestseller won Edgar Anthony, Agatha, and Macavity awards. She is a past president of Sisters in Crime and of the American Crime writers’ league, and a director on the national board for Mystery Writers of America.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- Anne: 2017 Audiobook Challenge
- Anne: 2017 Library Love Challenge
- Anne: 2017 New Release Challenge
Amazing that you recall so much after so long! I like how you describe the voice having “cool reserve.”
I know- it shocked me! But Maron is such a good writer and the series is excellent. So it stayed with me.