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The Turquoise Shop

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

21 posts | 7 read | 13 to read

In a small arts community in mid-century New Mexico, a wealthy patron is accused of murder In a small, artsy New Mexico town, the arrival of a wealthy stranger from back East is enough to get folks talking. Even a few years after Mona Brandon landed in Santa Maria, the rumor mill still churns with tid-bits about her money, her influence, and � when a corpse is discovered in the nearby desert that may or may not be her husband � her secret and suspicious past. From the counter at her local jewelry and art shop, Jean Holly has a front row seat for all this gossip and more, after her acquaintance with Pat Abbott, the detective investigating the apparent murder, turns romantic. With his deductive reasoning and her local knowledge combined, they have everything they need to discover whodunnit. But will they be able to put the pieces together and solve the mystery before the killer strikes again? With characters and a setting inspired by Mabel Dodge Luhan and the Taos art colony, The Turquoise Shop is a delightful Golden Age mystery adorned with Southwestern historical detail. It is the first novel in the popular and long-running Pat and Jean Abbott series, which charmed mid-century audiences with over twenty-five installments and which was adapted for multiple radio programs in the 40s and 50s.

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review

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Pick

pick

A 1940s murder mystery set in New Mexico, this was different from the previous #goldenagecrimeclub picks & an enjoyable one in terms of atmosphere & a reliably batshit assortment of artists & wealthy patrons in a small arts community. Probably because of my recent frame of mind (frazzled), I found the mystery itself quite convoluted but enjoyed the book as a period piece & because I liked the vibe between the Jean & Pat. Needs more flirty banter

batsy imo, lol. And for that reason alone I'd like to read a few more in this series, in the hopes that we might get more enjoyable interaction between the sleuthing couple. But, as expected for its time, there were references to Native Americans as well as the usual doses of lowkey sexism that were not fun. Glad to have to squeezed this in before the month ended for the group read & enjoyed looking up the older covers! 2mo

Aimeesue Reliably batshit assortment of artists and wealthy patrons! Exactly! 😂 2mo

jlhammar Batshit indeed! 😂 2mo

See All 10 Comments

LeahBergen I always love some good flirty banter, too. 😆 2mo

quietjenn 🤣 what an apt description of these characters! 2mo

merelybookish Lol. Great review. (Also initially read 'flirty' banter as 'flinty' and was quite intrigued. 😆) 2mo

Tamra 😆 flirty banter 2mo

batsy @Aimeesue @jlhammar @quietjenn 😆😆 2mo

batsy @LeahBergen @Tamra Can't go wrong with some flirty banter 😁 Too bad it got spicy on the last page lol 2mo

batsy @merelybookish Ha! Flinty would have been fun, too 😏 And thank you! 2mo

79 likes1 stack add10 comments

review

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Pick

pick

A low pick for me. I didn't care for the writing style all that much, but it was a good mystery with lots of twists. It was interesting to read an early American mystery that's a cozy, as most of the ones I've read from that period had been of the hardboiled variety.

#goldenagecrimeclub @mitch
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
#SummerEndReadathon @TheSpineView
#RushAthon @DieAReader @Andrew65 @GHABI4ROSES

TheSpineView Great job! 2mo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 2mo

Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 2mo

37 likes4 comments

review

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Pick

pick

The first of a 26 book mystery series featuring Jean and Pat Abbott, this brought back a lot of memories of high desert living, and the landscapes Crane describes are on point. Made me miss living in the desert a *tiny* bit, and you know, it‘s a dry heat! I especially appreciated the turkey vultures - those guys were everywhere, and you really can locate a dead (whatever) where they‘re circling. Good read - I‘ll probably read more of the series.

Deblovestoread Sounds like a fun series! 2mo

Ruthiella The sense of place was really well done in this book, for sure. Also a good reminder that the high desert can also be COLD. 🥶 2mo

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review

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Pick

pick

@Mitch what a fabulous book.I am sorry that I did not finish it for discussion.The descriptive writing of The environs of the New Mexico, mountains, mesas, unique weather patterns & local, town are magical-a character in itself. I am in love with so many of the vividly written town characters:The enigmatic, close to the vest. Detective Patrick Abbott;the serene, generous listener, Jean Holly;the wild, cagey, controlling, town owner, Mona, 🔽

kspenmoll 🔼 Gilbert, of the borderline mental health craziness; Trask,the dedicated, intrepid, intelligent, sheriff; the Native American Luis, who isn‘t what he seems; the passionate painter, O‘Hara- so many more, make this character driven novel, a joy to read.#goldenagecrimeclub (edited) 2mo

Ruthiella Are you going to read more in the series do you think? 🤔 2mo

Anna40 We lived about 5hrs drive away from Santa Fe and Taos. We spent many holidays up there, Albuquerque too. Absolutely love New Mexico. One of the most beautiful places I‘ve been to. 2mo

kspenmoll @Ruthiella definitely! The next one I found used, but I am checking the library as well. 2mo

kspenmoll @Anna40 I would love to go someday! 2mo

60 likes5 comments

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Flooding, wild sheets of rain calls for tea, lemon & honey while reading in my son‘s school cafe. Change of scene needed ( from my house) for mental heath, even if I experience a little more pain. Hubby & me reading while son in class. Usually he takes the bus but I needed to get out so we drove. Loving this book. Sorry I‘m not finished it in time for discussion.#goldenagecrimeclub #serieslove2013 #tea #healing 🫖🍋🍯

tagged users icon

Mitch, TheSpineView

Suet624 Good job taking care of yourself. 2mo

TheSpineView Love to read when it rains 🌧 💕 2mo

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty and it would match your porch! Take care of yourself 🩷 sending lots of love! 2mo

kspenmoll @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @TheSpineView @Suet624 thanks all! Trying with the self-care, reading when it rains makes me feel cozy and yes, my book and book cover match my porch! 2mo

67 likes4 comments

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

#bookreport

On page 159/261 in the Turquoise Shop. Really enjoying it. #goldenagecrimeclub
Finished The body in the Dales - review coming. Looking forward to the sequel.#serieslove2023 #yorkshiremurdermystery #book1

tagged users icon

Cinfhen, Andrew65, Mitch, TheSpineView

TheSpineView Great job 2mo

Andrew65 I think the series only gets better. Well done 👏👏👏 2mo

Cinfhen How‘s your recovery going??? 2mo

kspenmoll @Cinfhen thanks for asking. Starting PT Friday, which makes me feel like my body is still pain of course, my biggest challenge is just using my left hand and not using my right! 2mo

56 likes1 stack add4 comments

review

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Pick

pick

I greatly enjoyed this American mystery classic, as well as finally finishing the selection of the month for #goldenagecrimeclub that I could actually join the discussion! Crane‘s sense of setting makes the reader feel like they are in New Mexico. Lots of great descriptions, red herrings, and quirky characters. I would gladly read book 2 of this series (there are 26!). #192025 #1941

tagged users icon

76 likes1 stack add

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Discussion 7
Anything we‘ve yet to chat about?
#goldenagecrimeclub

jlhammar It's been fun to see some of this other cover art. I guess there was a radio show based on this series. You can listen to some episodes here:
https://www.myclassicradio.net/adventures-of-the-abbotts.html 2mo

Ruthiella I liked the attention to detail about what everyone wore! 😂 It really helped set the scenes for me. 2mo

Librarybelle Good selection! I‘m very unfamiliar with the early American mysteries, so I‘m so glad I was introduced to this one! 2mo

See All 11 Comments

quietjenn @jlhammar ah, good find - thanks for sharing! I love old time mystery radio shows. 2mo

quietjenn I'm glad that this was chosen! I'm not sure how Crane has escaped my attention for so long. 2mo

Aimeesue @jlhammar Those are great! Thanks for posting! 2mo

kwmg40 I enjoyed reading an American mystery for a change of pace. Most of the early American mysteries I've read in the past are of the hardboiled variety, and it was nice to read one that's more of a cozy. 2mo

Mitch @Librarybelle you‘re most welcome! Glad we‘ve all discovered something new 2mo

Mitch @quietjenn She has a really unique voice doesn‘t she. I‘m so glad you liked it 2mo

Mitch @kwmg40 it couldn‘t be more different to those classic ‘hard boiled‘ stories being written at the same time could it! 2mo

Mitch Glad this one seemed to be a winner! Thanks everyone. I‘ve really enjoyed you‘re perspectives on this journey of discovering the golden age of crime ! 2mo

32 likes11 comments

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Discussion 6
Jean, our narrator, wasn‘t always very nice! She was unkind towards other characters and didn‘t always have energy or agency! I‘m wondering wether Crane planned this to give her scope to develop her over the course of the 25 subsequent novels. But it seems like a risky thing to do to one of your main characters in a first novel - or am I‘m being to harsh on her!
#goldenagecrimeclub

jlhammar She was kind of an odd duck (seemed like that was a prerequisite for loving the Santa Maria life!), but I mostly liked her. I am curious how Crane develops her character throughout the series. 2mo

Ruthiella I liked her. Where she was unkind, she usually recognized it and rued her behavior later. That made her a realistic character. 2mo

Librarybelle Totally agree with @Ruthiella on this. I liked Jean…she had an unique way of thinking at times, but she made for an interesting narrator. 2mo

See All 7 Comments

quietjenn I didn't really think of her as unkind, but liked that she was flawed and had emotions and feelings. Like others, it helped make her feel real to me. And sometimes she was far nicer than I think I would've been in similar circumstances (like when Gilbert followed her home to intentionally scare her and almost every interaction she had with Mona). 2mo

Aimeesue What @Ruthiella said - we‘re all unkind, at times, at least in our heads. We just had an interior view. She rarely said any of that out loud, or acted unkindly. I agree with @quietjenn - Jean had way more patience than I would have! 2mo

kwmg40 The narrator wasn't always “nice“ but I felt she was a very realistic character, so it's not all that difficult for a reader to relate to her. 2mo

Mitch Yeah for realism! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 2mo

26 likes7 comments

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Discussion 5
Newly divorced, Crane wrote this book as a means to raise funds for her daughters college tuition. It is the first in a series of 26 books to feature Pat and Jean Abbott (most of which have a colour in the title!). What did you think of her writing style? Are you seeking out book 2?
#goldenagecrimeclub

jlhammar I thought her writing style was engaging. Interesting choice with the first person POV, but I think it worked to get a feel for the place and the characters through Jean's eyes. I'm not going to be in any rush to read more Pat & Jean Abbott mysteries, but I'd like to try another someday. And 26 books, wow! How had I never heard of Crane or this series before? Makes me want to try more of the Otto Penzler Presents American Mystery Classics.
2mo

Ruthiella If I had all the time in the world, I‘d love to read ALL these books Penzler has brought back to life. Just googling him and all he‘s done was eye opening. I wouldn‘t be opposed to reading more from this series and I also want to try a book from Mary Roberts Rinehart, another American mystery writer he‘s brought back in print. 2mo

Librarybelle I‘d definitely read another one! I really liked this, and thanks for the insight into Crane‘s personal life! 2mo

See All 7 Comments

quietjenn I really liked her style - very chatty and easy. I've already looked to see how much of the series is currently available in ebook, so that's a yes from me 😂 I mean, I'm not going to pay full price for them, but will for sure pick them up here and there when they are on sale, which I often do with classic mysteries. 2mo

Aimeesue I liked Crane‘s writing style, and will definitely read more, as some are available to borrow on Hoopla. Weird omissions, though - they have #s 5, 6, 7, then 17, 19. Odd choice. 2mo

kwmg40 I enjoyed this novel enough that I'd be happy to read more in the series, though it's not on the top of my list at the moment. 2mo

Mitch I love these reprints- similar to the British Library Crime Classic reprints. I had such a narrow experience of #goldenagecrime prior to this year of reading - and it‘s soooo much more than Sayers and Christie. Some amazing gems have been reprinted and I think it‘s really brilliant we can read them in print again. 2mo

22 likes7 comments

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Image - Georgia O‘ Keefe
Santa Maria is an artistic haven like the town it was inspired by (Taos) Georgia O‘Keefe lived nearby, Paul Strand visited regularly and it was a frequently visited location of the Bloomsbury set. This gave the author lots of scope of interesting side characters, art, food, craft. Did it get you fishing out your car keys / passport / bus ticket for a spot of travel or artistic endeavour?
#goldenagecrimeclub

jlhammar I've never visited New Mexico, but would like to someday. I could just picture this artsy town - she really made it come alive. I loved reading about what a place like Taos was like back in the 40s. 2mo

Aimeesue Taos is lovely, still very artsy. The O‘Keefe museum is fabulous 🌺 2mo

Ruthiella I think the Santa Maria/Taos depicted in the book is probably no more. But the sense of place was so strong, it did make me want to visit New Mexico, for sure. 2mo

See All 7 Comments

Librarybelle I‘ve never been out west, but from everything else I‘ve read/seen/heard from others, it was such a perfect description, even given the time era difference. 2mo

quietjenn It really did make me want to visit! I know people who have done so and rave about it and it's previously never particularly appealed. I'm sure it's quite changed these days, but perhaps some of the essence remains? 2mo

kwmg40 I've never visited New Mexico before. The author made it sound very appealing, and I'd love to go there one day. 2mo

Mitch It‘s never been on my list - but I‘m adding the O‘Keefe museum now! One day…! 🤞🏼 2mo

20 likes7 comments

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Discussion 3
What were the strongest and weakest plot points in this novel? Was it a compelling mystery?
#goldenagecrimeclub

jlhammar I thought it was a light and engaging mystery, a bit more straightforward perhaps, but entertaining. I think it was more the looming threat that someone else was going to get hurt/killed that made this rather propulsive. It was really all of the historical detail though that made this a pick for me. 2mo

Ruthiella I thought the book was really good about throwing the reader off the trail, what with Daisy‘s sudden disappearance, Mona‘s histrionics, Gilbert‘s creepy behavior, etc. People sure did seem to trust Jean with their secrets an awful lot, however! 😆 2mo

Librarybelle This was a compelling mystery. I was engaged in the story right away, and there were enough red herrings to keep you guessing. 2mo

See All 11 Comments

quietjenn I thought so. I for sure didn't know what was going to happen/how things would resolve themselves, until right before the Reveal, which was pretty perfect timing. I did find it curious that a jewelry/gift shop was such a hotbed of action, but maybe that's how it is in artsy little tourist towns! 2mo

Aimeesue @Librarybelle So many red herrings! I suppose there are, though, irl. 2mo

Aimeesue @Ruthiella At one point, I suspected that Gilbert was the counterfeiter, carrying the plates around in his ever present briefcase! 😂 (edited) 2mo

Ruthiella @Aimeesue 🤣 One did wonder what was in that briefcase ! 2mo

Aimeesue @Ruthiella Did we ever find out what was in there? Poor Gilbert. 2mo

Ruthiella @Aimeesue I‘m guessing all his unpublished poetry? 2mo

kwmg40 I found this to be a compelling mystery. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing. 2mo

Mitch There was sooooo much going on wasn‘t there ! Red herrings galore and so much eccentricity! Loved that about it. And like you said @quietjenn - who knew gifts shops were such hot beds of intrigue! 2mo

23 likes11 comments

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Discussion 2
The New Mexico setting of this book - the town of Santa Maria was modelled on the real place of Taos - which was home to the author in the year prior to writing this book. Did the book give you a good sense of this place?
#goldenagecrimeclub

jlhammar I think Crane did a wonderful job with sense of place. Probably my favorite part of the book. I can see why Hillerman (in her intro) refers to this book as a kind of time travel. 2mo

Ruthiella Very much so! I enjoyed that aspect of it a lot. I really wanted to sit by the fire in Miss Holly‘s shop a little while! 2mo

Librarybelle Definitely! 2mo

See All 7 Comments

quietjenn Very much so - and that was one of the things that I most liked about it. 2mo

kwmg40 Yes, I thought the author did a good job with sense of place. I liked the setting very much. 2mo

Mitch I did too and wish I could do some time travel and sit by the fire and admire some art! 2mo

Mitch @jlhammar you can really tell it‘s a real place that she knows well, can‘t you? 2mo

21 likes7 comments

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Yeah - it‘s #buddyread time!
Discussion 1
This month we‘ve read our first #goldenagecrimeclub set outside of England, written in 1941 by an American woman, set in a US town. Let‘s dive right in - Do you think this book differed in any ways from the British Mysteries we‘ve been reading?

jlhammar It did have a different vibe to it, but hard to put my finger on what it was exactly. Maybe a bit more celebratory or embracing of the independent, the eccentric, the less than proper, perhaps felt a bit more soap opera-esque? Lots of money talk and lots of shooting (guns) which maybe gave it more of an American/Wild West kind of feel? 2mo

Ruthiella For sure the location colored and shaped the plot and characters, but in some ways, the eccentric characters in a small New Mexican town weren‘t all that different from those in an English village… 2mo

Librarybelle What I liked about this one was the female MC, with the mystery unfolding through her words. 2mo

See All 12 Comments

quietjenn Definitely said to myself “lots more guns in this one“ as I was reading! 2mo

Aimeesue @quietjenn Yes! Just hanging your pistol on the back of your chair in the bar! Losing your purse with your gun in it! My goodness, times were different. 2mo

Aimeesue @Librarybelle It was a great perspective, since everybody and his brother came in to Jean‘s shop, and she got ALL kinds of info from everyone! Lots of it completely irrelevant, but sorting it out was interesting. 2mo

Aimeesue @Ruthiella Yes, everybody in every small town talks about everybody else and has an opinion about everything that goes on. Jean was a little Miss Marple-ish, sitting back and observing as she polished the silver pieces. 2mo

Aimeesue @jlhammar There was a lot more acceptance of the breaking of social norms, up to sexual behavior, I thought. Sure, people have fairly shadowy pasts, but that‘s OK, since EVERYBODY is pretty much a newcomer. 2mo

AmyG I apologize as I never got to this one. Life still going crazy as ever. 2mo

kwmg40 I too noticed that there were more guns everywhere! There seemed also to be a more diverse group of characters. 2mo

Mitch The guns stood out for me too! But I did enjoy a break from an overload of classism! 2mo

Mitch @Librarybelle having her voice was great wasnt it - I think that will help the books develop across the series in interesting ways 2mo

23 likes12 comments

review

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Pick

pick

“I don‘t wonder you‘re all mixed up. I feel sorry for any investigator, no matter what the crime, in a place like this.”

I feel you, Patrick 😆 A place like this being a small town in northern New Mexico filled with quirky artists and “everybody knowing what everybody else will do before they do it.” I enjoyed this 1941 crime classic quite a bit, especially Jean‘s shop and all the little details of living in that particular time and place.

tagged users icon

jlhammar #GoldenAgeCrimeClub 2mo

AlaMich After reading your post, I looked up that series, and there‘s 23 books in it! 2mo

Ruthiella I‘m only about 50 pages in but finding it super easy to read. The chapters are so short, I keep thinking, “just one more!” 2mo

batsy Glad you enjoyed it! I've yet to start but I'm looking forward to it. 2mo

72 likes4 stack adds4 comments

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

A pleasant afternoon to be reading. Soft breeze, cloudless blue sky and bird song. Just a block away the joyful sounds of school children at play fills the air. Life is good. #porchlife
#goldenagecrimeclub

Librarybelle I love how your book sleeve matches the book! 2mo

kspenmoll @Librarybelle 🥰 2mo

69 likes1 stack add2 comments

quote

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Yes! #goldenagecrimeclub

tagged users icon

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 2mo

45 likes1 comment

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Starting this gem today.#goldenagecrimeclub

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Tamra This sounds like a fun one! 2mo

48 likes2 stack adds1 comment

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

My overly ambitious hopes for September!
#teachers #librarymystery #sundaybuddyread #bookclub #whartonbuddyread #goldenagecrimeclub #marywestmacotbuddyread #pemberlittens #janeadjacent #achapteraday #septemberbuddyread #janeandtheexcellentreadalong #nunlit #adventuresinphilosophy #philosophyintheislamicworld #summerendreadathon

tagged users icon

TheBookHippie, Crinoline_Laphroaig, StayCurious, Graywacke, Mitch, jlhammar, GingerAntics, CSeydel, TheSpineView

TheBookHippie 😅♥️ 3mo

TheSpineView Good luck! 3mo

Graywacke You got this! (And … enjoy trying) 3mo

See All 7 Comments

StayCurious Wow! 3mo

Ruthiella You can do it! 👍 3mo

Crinoline_Laphroaig Oh the first of the month when we think we can read ALL the books 3mo

kspenmoll @Crinoline_Laphroaig True! 😂😂 3mo

72 likes7 comments

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Repost for @Mitch

Huge thanks to everyone who has joined me on my year of reading #goldenagecrime. I‘m so enjoying the challenge and sharing in everyone‘s thoughts. We chat about the book on the last Sunday of the month - everyone welcome to drop in and share their ideas!
Next month we move location - we‘re off to New Mexico with Frances Crane.
#goldenagecrimeclub

LitsyEvents Original post : https://litsy.com/p/MFQyTW9SeWhP 3mo

50 likes1 comment

blurb

The Turquoise Shop | Frances Crane

Huge thanks to everyone who has joined me on my year of reading #goldenagecrime. I‘m so enjoying the challenge and sharing in everyone‘s thoughts. We chat about the book on the last Sunday of the month - everyone welcome to drop in and share their ideas!
Next month we move location - we‘re off to New Mexico with Frances Crane.
#goldenagecrimeclub @LitsyEvents

jlhammar Looking forward to it! 3mo

Ruthiella Just checked and my library has a copy! Yahoo. 😃 3mo

60 likes1 stack add2 comments