The Breakers by Marcia Muller Narrator: Elizabeth Evans
Series: Sharon McCone #33
Published by Hachette Audio on August 14, 2018
Genres: Mystery
Length: 6 hours, 4 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble
Sharon McCone returns in New York Times bestselling author Marcia Muller's thrilling new mystery!On a foggy summer morning, private investigator Sharon McCone receives a call from her former neighbors, the Curleys. Their usually dependable daughter Chelle hasn't been answering their calls for weeks. Would Sharon check on her?Sharon arranges to visit the building Chelle had been living in and rehabbing in southwest San Francisco. Once it was a nightclub and bar, she learns, and a favorite destination for the city's elite during Prohibition.
But there's something sinister about the space, and Sharon quickly discovers why. Lurking behind a divider screen is a ghastly art gallery: portraits and caricatures of mass murderers, long ago and recent. Jack the Ripper. The Zodiac and Zebra killers of the 1970s. Charles Manson and his girls. Scott Peterson, who killed his pregnant wife, Laci, and dumped her body into the Bay on Christmas Eve. What, an alarmed Sharon wonders, was Chelle doing in this chamber of horrors? And where is she now?New York Times bestselling author Marcia Muller is at her page-turning best in THE BREAKERS, as she digs into a particularly disturbing corner of San Francisco's history--one that Sharon McCone may not escape alive...
The Sharon McCone series is a long running mystery series with The Breakers is number 33. I have read them all. It began in 1977. The books are set in current day so technology and other aspects have changed along with our world over the years. The mysteries are smart with many, well-defined characters. I loved seeing many of these familiar people from Sharon’s family, friends and co-workers. Their personal lives are a part of the story as well. There is also plenty of suspense. I would read these in order due to the characters’ development.
The recent books I’ve been enjoying on audio. They are shorter, about half the length of a regular book. I listened to The Breakers over one day and easily felt comfortable with Sharon’s investigating and the wide array of her friends and family. Without the familiarity of the world and all the regulars I think I might have been lost. I had enough trouble just keeping all the people involved in the investigation(s) straight.
Sharon is trying to find Chelle, her old neighbor who has gone missing. Chelle has been rehabbing a building and as Sharon tries to track her down one of the tenants is murdered. I really enjoy the procedures of how Sharon gathers information which leads her to more contacts and information to solve her cases.
Narration:
I enjoyed Elizabeth Evans again at my usual 1.25x speed. She is the voice of the series and its characters. Most of the internal thoughts and dialogue involve Sharon and she is great with her, but also the rest of the voices are well done. She is easy to understand and infuses emotion into her performance.
Listen to a clip:
About Marcia Muller
A native of the Detroit area, Marcia Muller grew up in a house full of books and self-published three copies of her first novel at age twelve, a tale about her dog complete with primitive illustrations. The “reviews” were generally positive.
In the early 1970s, having moved to California, Muller found herself unemployable and began experimenting with mystery novels.
In the ensuing thirty-some years, Muller has authored over 35 novels–three of them in collaboration with husband Bill Pronzini–seven short-story collections, and numerous nonfiction articles. Together she and Pronzini have edited a dozen anthologies and a nonfiction book on the mystery genre. Muller received the Shamus Award, “The Eye” (Lifetime achievement award) in 1993. In 2005 Muller was named a Grand Master by Mystery Writers of America, the organization’s highest award. Pronzini was named Grand Master in 2008, making them the only living couple to share the award (the other being Margaret Millar and Ross Macdonald). The Mulzinis, as friends call them, live in Sonoma County, California, in yet another house full of books.
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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:
- 2018 Audiobook Challenge
- 2018 Library-Love Challenge
- 2018 New Release Challenge
I didn’t know about it but it looks nice so why not?
There are so many of these old mystery series I enjoy which have 20-30 books. Sharon McCone by Marcia Muller, VI WArshawski by Sara Paretsky, Richard Jury by Martha Grimes, Kinsey Millhone by Sue Grafton with time I’m sure I could think of more.
I can’t believe that I haven’t heard of a long-running series like this one. Glad you enjoyed it, Anne!
I found it during my 20 years of only reading mysteries. I really love it tho. Sharon is smart and capable. The author does a great job with the family, friends and relationships which form a good backdrop for the mystery. The earlier books start in the 80s I think so the technology is old now but they are still good books.
I have a vague recollection of this author from a few years ago but don’t remember it being such a long series! She and J. D. Robb have something in common.
You must enjoy this series to have stayed committed to it over the years. Nice review, Anne!
Yes, if you want to know the long-running mysteries which started in the 80s or 90s I’m your girl. I can go to a bookstore, library or used bookstore and I will know almost every author in the section. I mentioned some of them in my response to Melliane.