[Books] Rubout (Francesca Vierling Mysteries)

Book Details

ISBN-10: 0440224446
Paperback:
ISBN-13: 978-0440224440
Publisher: Dell(May11,1998)
Language: English
Book Dimensions: 6.7x4.3x0.9inches
Shipping Weight: 8ounces

Book Editorial Reviews:

Rubout (Francesca Vierling Mysteries)--- Review
"Nobody knows St. Louis better than Elaine Viets. . . . I'm looking forward to reading more about Francesca Vierling. Her creator has the touch."
--John Lutz, author of Death by Jury -- Review

Product Description
The open road. The wind whipping in your face. For both serious riders and the wanna-bes called RUBs--Rich Urban Bikers--riding a Harley is only part of the thrill. Putting on leather and acting out is the rest. Even Francesca Vierling, a St. Louis reporter who is a little too tall, smart, and sexy for her own good, is dressed to kill--for a biker's ball that will lead straight ahead to murder.The victim is a woman who lived well, married bad, and divorced hard. For Sydney Vander Venter, going from high-society wife to tough-talking biker chick was only a phase. One she didn't survive. Now Francesca must find out who ruined the annual Leather and Lace Ball by killing Sydney. But with her career crashing, her love life sputtering, and another murder waiting down the road, Francesca finds out firsthand how dangerous it can be when you're born to be wild--and dare to live that way too. . . .

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Rubout (Francesca Vierling Mysteries) Reviews:

An author to watch in a must read mystery

Francesca Vierling is elated to be attending the annual Leather and Lace Biker's Society Ball as a guest not as a reporter for the St. Louis City Gazette.In spite of her lover refusing to accompany her, Francescashe still has a good time.However, that changes when high society member Sydney Vander Venter, a surprise attendee is found murdered. The police believe either one of Sydney's relatives (she was in the midst of a highly publicized, ugly divorce) or one of the bikers (she made several enemies at the ball) killed her.The prime biker suspects turn to Francesca for help.They know about her success in solving a previous case (see BACKSTAB) and feel she can prove their innocence.The amateur sleuth reluctantly begins to investigate who killed the victim. RUBOUT, the second novel in the Vierling amateur sleuth series, is a fun to read mystery because of the well-developed and very interesting support ensemble.The story line has enough red herrings that interweave with the main plot to please fans of the sub-genre.Francesca is a wonderful character, whose motivations are obvious but honest .Elaine Viets confirms that she is a rising talent whom fans of the sub-genre need to pay attention to because they will obtain their money's worth with her novels. Harriet Klausner

[Books] Rubout (Francesca Vierling Mysteries) Rating:8 Points
Best:10 Points
Votes:100 People
Count:8 Reviews

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2^#

BethDPost at 2011-2-12 19:01 | Only View Author

Leather And Laced To Death

It's the annual Leather and Lace Biker's Society Ball and Francesca Vierling, 37 year old columnist for the St. Louis City Gazette is going

Francesca was shocked, when at the ball she sees Sydney Vander Venter, a rich, soon to be divorced socialite from St. Louis's upper class.She was with her new boyfriend, a biker named Jack.

Sydney manages to get everyone ticked off at her when she flirts with the other men and ends with Stephanie, the girlfriend of Crazy Jerry threateningto beat her up.

Leaving the ball, Francesca has the unfortunate luck of stumbling over Sydney's body.She had been beaten to death with a bike chain.

Detective Mark Mayhew suspects everyone at the ball, but Francesca wonders if it might not be someone closer to home.After all, Sydney was going through a bad divorce.Could it be her husband who was dumping her for a younger woman.Or maybe her son, who had a drug habit and was resentful of his mother's attempt to put him in rehab.

Then Sydney's new boyfriend, Jack is killed in a motorcycle accident after calling Francesca and saying he would tell her the name of Sydney's killer for $25,000.If she didn't buy, he knew someone else who would.Was this someone else the person who killed Sydney and maybe Jack?

Once again, Francesca's investigation leads her to a showdown with the killer that almost leaves her dead.

Highlights:

I enjoyed Francesca much more in this book than I did in the first book, but she is still a somewhat irritating person.I still think she needs therapy.

Her boyfriend Lyle is a nice guy, but Francesca treats him horribly.Why?Because this dog has the nerve to want to marry her, take care of her and thinks she could get a better job somewhere else.He say's he'd go anywhere to make her happy, but he's sick of listening to her complain and gripe constantly about her job.

Marlene, a waitress at Uncle Bob's Pancake House is a very funny character.Once again, Francesca doesn't listen to any of her advice.

Humor.There are a lot of funny parts in this book.Especially, everything dealing with the "Voyage Committee" that Francesca gets put on at the paper and their "Voyage Captain, Jason."

Lowlights:

Ruining the character of Detective Mark Mayhew. who in the first book appeared to be a happily married cop, who was good friends with Francesca.

In this book, he turns out not only not to be faithful, but a real creep on top of it.Francesca may be able to "forget" about their interlude on her stairwell and stay friends, but how she can forgive him for the way he acts over her car is beyond me. And there was no reason for it. It didn't help the story, it didn't do anything except turn a good character into a creep.

The Killer.They might as well have hung a sign around their neck saying "killer" you know who it is the instant they show up.

The staff at the St. Louis City Gazette, this group of losers are, if possible, even worse than in the first book.You get to meet more of them and there isn'tanything redeeming about any of them.This includes Georgia, who Francesca considers her mentor, but spends her entire time telling Francesca not to make waves and shut up.A true mentor would tell Francesca that with her talent she should not be working at such a low life paper.

Even though I have a lot of problems with this book, the writing is so good, that it keeps your interest, even after you figure out who the killer is and wonder through the rest of the book, how Francesca doesn't see it.

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3^#

CustomersPost at 2011-2-13 14:33 | Only View Author

A lot of fun

I grew up in St. Louis and was familiar with Elaine Viets' funny Post-Dispatch columns about city life, so when I saw she had written amystery I was eager to see what it was like.I wasn't disappointed.Itwas fun to read a mystery with references to my home town, and the satireabout the newspaper where her heroine works was especially funny since I'veworked on newspapers for quite a number of years.My only criticism isthat it was fairly easy to figure out who the killer was, but I stillenjoyed the book immensely and highly recommend it.

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4^#

CustomersPost at 2011-2-14 10:06 | Only View Author

A must read for mystery fans!!

Viets gives us savy, sharp witted Francesca Verling and a great read! An inside look at the world of the newspaper game, suspense and characters to easily become attached to/or despise. They are honest, gritty and herdescriptions are priceless!

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5^#

CustomersPost at 2011-2-15 05:38 | Only View Author

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6^#

CustomersPost at 2011-2-16 01:11 | Only View Author

Three Cheers for Francesca and St. Louis

Francesca Vierling, an in-your-face, sharp-tongued, "St. Louie Woman" is someone you'll want to get to know. "Rubout," the second of her adventures, following "Backstab," is a cleverlywritten, fast-paced mystery that takes you on a wild ride from St. Louis'sbiker culture to its cultured elite in search of a brutal killer. A greatread that's hard to put down.

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7^#

CustomersPost at 2011-2-16 20:43 | Only View Author

Couldn't put this mystery down.

My second Francesca Vierling mystery by Elaine Viets.I love her humor and her view of the lives of "unusual" people.I also enjoyed the St. Louis setting, found it fascinating.Francesca is a multi-faceted sleuth that I really enjoy.The mystery was first rate, and I could not put it down, ended up reading it until 2 a.m.Waiting for the next one!!!

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8^#

CustomersPost at 2011-2-17 16:16 | Only View Author

Great mystery book, I couldn't put it down! Fascinating!

I look forward to ANY book by Elaine Viets, they always provide me with hours of wonderful reading!

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[Books] Rubout (Francesca Vierling Mysteries)

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