Monkey Puzzle

by Paula Gosling

Book Overview

Monkey Puzzle by Paula Gosling released on Jul 25, 1990 is available now for purchase.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373260563
• ISBN13: 9780373260560
• Release Date: August 1990
• Publisher: Worldwide Library
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Loved it then - love it now!

I read the rather puzzling review, giving this book only one star, and think he's way off base - almost as if we were reviewing completely different books! I first read this book back in the Eighties, I own a copy - actually own copies of every one of Ms. Gosling's books, and I re-read The Monkey Puzzle whenever I'm in the mood for a great-escape, comfort read, and, yes, hot romance. First of all, to rebut the previous person's analysis, this book is not homophobic; it's not against Vietnam veterans - other than commentary on effects of war; and it's characters are highly drawn. Lieutenant Stryker makes a very convincing homocide detective, living on the edge due to recent illness and his determination to keep going, and driving his supervisor and sometimes co-detectives a little crazy - whose intelligence and devotion to uphold the law is demonstrated even if it means spurning the woman he loves - making him an excellent protagonist. The murder victim is painted, not in homophobic terms but in anti-societal terms. It's not homosexuality or pornography that makes him the sleazeball that he is, but his immorality, his perversion, and his predation. Yet, for all the corrupt and disgusting character flaws unearthed about the victim, Lieutenant Stryker conducts the murder investigation until the case is resolved. Murder, afterall, is the ultimate act against a civilized society. I would suggest reading Monkey Puzzle for yourself. Keep in mind it was written in the 1980's not in 2010, by a very brilliant and sensitive author who has written many other worthwhile mysteries. The solution is not obvious - it does keep one guessing and, yes, shivering with fear - even though it may be summer outside in your neck of the woods or desert - and not frigidly cold and wintery as it is in Ms. Gosling's excellently atmospheric setting for the murder. On the line of Agatha Christie, P.D. James, Martha Grimes, Ruth Rendell, and Peter Lovesey - Paula Gosling plots a damn good mystery that keeps all the balls in the air until the final chapter, and she populates them with characters who will stay with you long after you've reached the breathtakingly, fast-paced finish line. I find her books extremely satisfying, and only wish there were more to her bibliographic list.

Murder in Acadamia

This book was a enjoyable read about how murder affects the English Department of a Midwestern University. Many possible suspects. Interesting relationship between the detective in charge of the case and one of the faculty members