To Play the Fool

A Kate Martinelli Mystery, Book 2

By: Laurie R. King

Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan

Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

THE SECOND BOOK IN THE KATE MARTINELLI MYSTERY SERIES

When a band of homeless people cremate a beloved dog in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, the authorities are willing to overlook a few broken regulations. But three weeks later, when the dog's owner gets the same fiery send-off, the SFPD has a real headache on its hands. The autopsy suggests homicide, but Inspector Kate Martinelli and her partner, Al Hawkin, have little else to go on: a homeless victim with no positive ID, a group of witnesses with little love for the cops, and a possible suspect, known only as Brother Erasmus, who proves both articulate and impossible to understand.

Erasmus, has a genius for blending with his surroundings, yet he stands out wherever he goes. He is by no means crazy-but he is a Fool. Kate begins the frustrating task of interrogating a man who communicates only through quotations. In Laurie R. King's To Play the Fool, trying to learn something of his history leads Kate along a twisting road to a disbanded cult, long-buried secrets, the thirst for spirituality, and the hunger for bloody vengeance.

©1995 Laurie R. King (P)2013 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“Beautifully written, with clearly defined and engaging characters.” —The Boston Globe

“Its characters, and its language, linger in the mind long after more conventional entries in the genre are gone.” —San Jose Mercury News

The least interesting of King’s novels

Although well researched and written, I did not find the novel note worthy. King’s considerable talents are best realized in the Sherlock Holmes and young wife Russell series. In the later she excels in creating mystery from both male and female perspectives.

Turn to other side

The editors didn't remove one statement to flip the tape... offputting, but only one occurrence.

entertaining

it's well written and narrator it's great. the story line is slow but gets better.

Compelling characters

Like all Laurie R. King’s books, the characters are as compelling as the story. I read and re-read them all!

A powerful story of the sacred fool

Only Laurie R King would come up with such an unusual and wonderful theme for a mystery. It was interesting to hear the instructions in the early part of the book to turn the tape over. It took me back to my early days of listening to audio books on tape. This book definitely puts itself in a particular time and place that being SanFrancisco before the turn of the the century. This book is one to read more than once.

Not as good and the first in the series.

This book did not live up to the first in the series. It was a good police procedural, not as high octane as I was hoping for. I still liked it but I was hoping for more. I do like the Kate Martinelli character. A murder in a park brings Kate onto the scene. A suspect, known only as Brother Erasmus, who proves both articulate and impossible to understand. He only speaks in quotes from the bible and poems. Kate has to learn to communicate to him in the same way. Kate's love life take a big hit too.

A great read

I've enjoyed many Laurie R King books including the Mary Russell stories , and the Folly stories. I'm very happy to be introduced to Kate Martinelli a San Francisco homicide detective. Although this is the second book in the series , it is the first one I have read, and I think it was a great one to start with. I love the quirky characters, and I'm impressed with the depth of knowledge of various sources including Shakespeare and the Christian Bible. All in all, another excellent read.

Wonderful!

A brilliant follow up to the first book in this series. Excellent narration. Mystery holds the reader or listeners to the very end. An exciting and real character in Kate and the supporting characters are interesting as well. All around a very good book.

captivating

captivating story with wonderful characters. I couldn't wait to find out how the characters developed.

If St. Francis was in your city park,,,,

This is a lovely book about religious simplicity, an attempt to find holy things in lowly things, and an understanding of redemption. I'd read it years ago and still found it fabulous. One of my favorites.