Edwin of the Iron Shoes

By: Marcia Muller

Narrated by: Laura Hicks

Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

It's Sharon McCone's first case as staff investigator for All Souls Legal Cooperative. She knows nothing about antiques, yet she has an affection for Salem Street with its charming mix of antique and curio shops. Now elderly dealer Joan Albritton has been found dead, stabbed with an antique dagger. Her neighbors are shocked. Recurring vandalism has them frightened. Ferreting out the facts will take Sharon from the chaotic jumble of the junk dealer's establishment to a museum where San Francisco's most elegant socialites gather.

©1977 The Pronzini-Muller Family Trust. All rights reserved. (P)2011 AudioGO

The Beginning of a Long Run

This is the first of over thirty Sharon McCone mysteries and was a pretty good first novel. The story unfolds quickly and in such a way that doesn't leave you shaking your head and cursing the author for presuming that you're so dim you'll suspend your belief that far from reality. There are some large holes in the narrative and McCone falling for the detective Greg Marcus seems a long shot; there is very little about him that seems at all likable. If it's your goal to have the entire series this is a good place to start. If you want to ascertain if the works of Marcia Muller are for you; the best of the McCone mysteries start further along in the series.

Just couldn't hang in there

Listened to more than half of this book. Kept waiting for it to get interesting. It did not.

The first McCone and still the best

What made the experience of listening to Edwin of the Iron Shoes the most enjoyable?

Reliving the experience of the story, which I had read when it was first published.
The narrrator captures the voice very well and the story flows effortlessly.

Inconsistencies In the Story

The story is just not believable. A private detective is allowed to work an active murder investigation? In a big city no less? The person who at first insists the private investigator work the case then immediately, immediately starts accusing her of being responsible because she didn’t catch vandals of earlier incidents she was investigating for them. Something comes up later which again has you scratching your head saying well why did you insist she investigate?

When you start out with just so much skepticism, it’s hard to get into the story. The writing is not bad, the scenarios are just not thoroughly thought out.

OK for a first story

A rather different detective type novel that did rather ramble on, not helped by the rather monotone narration that had poor character voices. The story was interesting but seemed to get bogged down in too much detail about antiques rather than developing the characters. However I won't give up, as first novels are usually not up to scratch so will try another later.

Sharon McCone Private Investigator's First Case!

What did you like most about Edwin of the Iron Shoes?

I bought it because I am a great fan of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone novels and this is another female PI book. Good cast of characters, well-plotted and with a likeable protagonist. I also like the ethos of these struggling detectives. Promising series. Engagingly read. Nice to have the American drawl.

What did you like best about this story?

Good characters and plot.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

The earliest of the female American private investigator genre and definitely a must read for any fans of Sue Grafton or Sara Paretsky. This isn't quite as hard boiled but a quirky set of characters mostly from down town San Francisco. I have just bought the sequel as an e-book.

Can't get rid of the one star

Sorry, have not listened yet, but don't know how to undo the one star (entered in error!).