The Strange Files of Fremont Jones: A Fremont Jones Mystery

Caroline Fremont Jones is a college educated Bostonian in the early years of the 20th century. Her father has recently married a woman that she dislikes. That woman has her nephew in mind for Caroline's husband. She has vowed never to marry, so when her father and Augusta are on their honeymoon, she leaves for San Fransisco. She changes her name to C. Fremont Jones and starts a typing business. Things are going well, she has a new friend, a young lawyer named Justin Cameron, an excellent landlady, Mrs O'Leary, and a mysterious neighbor, Michael Archer. Strange things begin to happen. A mysterious stranger with a resemblence to Edgar Allan Poe, drops off a manuscript to be typed. He seems to be afraid of something or someone. His tales are very strange. Then, a leader of the Chinese community, Li Wong, asks her to type a letter for him. Shortly afterward he is murdered, and his family needs the information in the letter, which has disappeared. Justin is becoming an infatuation, which Fremont doesn't want given her vow, and Michael Archer seems to be following her. Something is very wrong and she is determined to get to the bottom of it all.This is a very good series. The time period and the characters are all very vivid. You almost feel that you are in the San Francisco of that time. The plot and mystery have many twists and turns and the ending is satisfactory. The next book should be even better!

I knew that I was hooked on a wonderful new series. Of All the series that I read, and I read a lot of them. I wait with great anticapation for the next one in this series. Ms. Day gives us a great lead in Fremont Jones. A very strong woman with a mind of her own. And in one of the best history period of our country. This story is very good. You get a real feel of the time and place, plus a very good understanding of Fremont Jones. The Mystery is well played out and keeps you guessing along till the end. There are some really good supporting cast too. Do yourself a favor, Get them all and read them in order. It is Great Fun!

I am a devoted mystery and series readers who chanced upon this book while browsing. Now after sometime and having read more books in the series, I am so happy to be acquainted with the author Dianne Day. Set in San Francisco in the early 20th century, the author has written about a feisty woman character, Fremont Jones, who not only thinks differently than her contemporaries but abandons her Brahmin Boston home to seek her own life halfway across the country. Starting out as a typist, Fremont Jones quickly becomes involved in a mystery when she is approached by a Chinese man who is found and his files mysteriously stolen from Jones' office. Fremont who takes her name from her pioneering relative John Fremeont is a woman living in the early 20th century with a 21st century feminist attitude. The mystery which hold one's attention is nothing compared to the relationships which Day creates and will have readers eagerly waiting to pick up the second book in the series.

I adore this book. I just re read it last night and couldn't put it down (again). The book is set in the early 1900s in San Francisco. Our earstwhile heroine Fremont Jones has just moved to town to start a typewriting business. Stranger mysteries around the documents she is typing soon ensue. There are two mysteries ongoing throughout the book, and they're both neatly wrapped up. One plot line concerns the author of Gothic Horror short stories (like Poe) and you get the bonus of reading selections from them. Excellent quick read.

The Strange Files... is a great concept. It is a fun-to-read blend of historical atmosphere, mystery and romance. Living in San Francisco myself, I love to read about what the city used to be like. The authenticity of the streets, locations, weather etc. makes it all the more enjoyable. I'm hooked on this new heroine.