Desert Winter

Graham Greene, C. S. Lewis, and Tolkien are writers who divide their work between "serious" and "entertaining" literature. My time constraints are such that I normally limit my focus to the former category, which has already expanded beyond the reading capabilities of any mortal in the course of a single lifetime (thank goodness, the amount of guilt does not grow in proportion to the books remaining to be read). Books from the latter category, I've always consoled myself, are primarily escapist narratives that can be enjoyed equally, and certainly more efficiently, in the medium of film. In spite of my principles, I found myself alone in a room with Michael Craft's "Desert Winter" and enough time to read the first page. Bad mistake--especially for addictive personalities such as mine. The theme of murder hits you in the first sentence with cinematic forcefulness, then quickly yields to a POV that would be impossible to capture in a movie: a Christmas ornament in the form of a meticulously described, watchful cherub blowing a trumpet. On whom? I immediately ask myself. The narrator plays with this motif through the end of the chapter, employing it in comical and suggestive ways that could never be translated to film. And the narrative, moreover, practically makes a case for its own integrity when, still in the first chapter, an allusion to "Laura," both the film classic and its literary antecedents, calls attention to the more realistic but also more obvious and less playful status of the film version.By this point I'm hooked. Normally, reading for me is a form of "work," with chapter endings representing welcome respites. Not so this backstage mystery story. With its colorful cast of characters, sharply observed descriptions, and playful plotting, I found it hard not to get ahead of the author's game. My advice: Don't try to match wits with Claire Gray unless you're absolutely assured you have the self-discipline not to peek ahead.

This is the second novel in the Claire Gray Series. I really like this one better than the first book. Not to say that the first one is bad or anything. The first one is a first rate mystery novel as well. But the second one adds more depth and dimension. Read it! You'll love it as much as I do.

Reading a Michael Craft mystery is like visiting old friends. You know and appreciate the characters, you usually know what to expect, but you still often receive a few surprises. Desert Winter is the second in the Claire Gray mystery series, and in it Craft has begun the process of polishing and refining his cast of characters. Secondary characters like Claire's neighbor Grant have been given more personality, and as a result have become more natural and believable. Only best friend Kiki remains to be fully brought to life. In addition, the new characters created for this specific adventure are, to say the least, quite unique. First there's Stewart Chaffee, an eccentric gay art collector and decorator who you know is going to become the prime victim and not just because he's addicted to Pink Fluff. Rounding out the Chaffee household, there's Pea, his height-challenged long-time major domo, and Bonnie Bahr, his nurse and care-giver who is just as adept with giving him a return insult as she is to giving him care.Oh, and in case you missed DESERT AUTUMN the first book in the series, Claire Gray is a renowned, fifty-something Broadway director who has been enticed by wealthy businessman, D. Glenn Yeats to move across the country to Palm Springs and head the theater department in his new Desert Arts College. As the scene opens, she is in the final stages of opening the initial production of the Desert Arts Theater. By the way, she also has a much younger hunk protégé in the person of Tanner Griffin, fledgling actor. (Amo, amas, amat.)Anyway, the DESERT WINTER plot is much like a play with new clues and red herrings being revealed with each scene change. And in a grand theatrical manner murderer is revealed in the final scene with all the characters (and suspects) in attendance. As usual I really enjoyed the book, however I have two nits to pick with the plot. First, there's the issue of Claire and Glenn buying into a clue Glenn discovers that does not fit into the time line of the plot. Claire is swift enough to have picked up on the time discrepancy right away. The other is Kane, Grant's boyfriend, describing a mysterious professor as just an older gentleman. Okay, Kane is very young and everyone he meets is older, but how could he miss a very distinctive feature of the professor which other characters had noted throughout the book.Mark Manning, the publisher/journalist hero of Craft's other successful series makes a cameo appearance in this story since his nephew Thad has become a student in the theater school. I wonder how long it will be before Mark buys the Desert Sun, Palm Springs' daily newspaper, and divides his time between Wisconsin and Palm Springs like author Craft. DESERT WINTER is a real page-turner, and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a refreshing and enjoyable reading experience. It really earned my ***** rating.

When we last left Claire Gray (at the end of Craft's "Desert Autumm" mystery), the transplanted NYC Broadway producer was settled in her new home near Palm Springs CA, heading the Drama department at the new Desert Arts College built by multimillionaire D. Glenn Yeats. Along the way, she had helped Larry, the straight police detective brother of her gay neighbor/friend Grant Kane, solve a murder, and picked up a boyfriend who was less than half of her (54) age. In the new book, Claire accompanies Grant to the home of wealthy retired designer/recluse Stewart Chaffee, a feisty senior who lives with his former lover, Makepeace (call him "Pea" for short ... which he is) and has daily visits from his private duty nurse, the feisty Bonnie, and his banker Meridith, who - since Stewart hates attorneys - is helping him document how his substantial estate is to be administered. Claire returns a few days later to pick up an antique clock (a prop for a play being staged at the college) and finds Stewart dead, crushed under the kitchen refrigerator, which he likely visited to get to a favorite sweet treat. Having discovered the body, Claire is quick to get involved in the "whodunit" aspect of the murder, and Larry Kane knows better than to try to dissuade her from helping him. This is very much an upbeat, fun read, which the author skillfully maintains by keeping potentially hillarious (except for the fact they involve a murder) situations in good taste. As an aside, the book also seems to realistically but favorably comment on the prognosis of "May-December" romances (one partner considerably older than the other), which describes not just Claire and the hunky Tanner, but also Grant and his young partner Kane. Last but not least, the book features a welcome cameo by Mark Manning, the author's Wisconsin newspaperman/amateur sleuth, who is visiting his nephew Thad, one of Claire's students. Mark indeed provides a valuable insight that helps the investigation avoid a serious problem. OK, I'll admit it ... I'm addicted to both the Mark Manning and - now - Claire Gray series of mysteries. The relatively light tone, perfect pacing of developments, attention to detail, colorful yet believeable characterizations and intelligent writing styles are among the best I have seen. My only concern, in seeing the progression in the titles of the new series (Desert Autum, now Desert Winter) is that the desert will run out of seasons before I run out of interest in the series! :)

After spending over three decades on Broadway directing award winning plays Claire Gray at the age of fifty-four changes careers when she is recruited by computer mogul billionaire Glenn Yeats to chair the theatre department at the Desert Arts College in Palm Springs. After three months of working there she is only a week away from directing her first play "Laura".She wants everything to be perfect so she and her friend Grant Knoll ask local collector Stewart Chaffee if she can borrow his valuable Australian case clock that will bring much authenticity to the production. Grant and Claire agree to pick it up the next day after Stewart recalls where he placed it, but when they visit the estate, they find Stewart dead. Confined to a wheelchair, it at first looks as if the refrigerator fell on top of Stewart but the police quickly discover it is a murder. There are so many suspects with sufficient motive and opportunity that Claire devises a very clever way to smoke the killer out of hiding.Michael Craft is a talented, gifted storyteller who is clearly a grandmaster of the amateur sleuth tale. Claire's romance with a student almost half her age feels natural and beautiful, and her ability to connect the dots makes her a realistic detective. Fans of the Mark Manning series also written by Mr. Craft will be delighted to know that he plays a key role in this tale and his nephew Thad makes a cameo appearance in this crafty all in the family production.Harriet Klausner