Frances Crane Books

"Peace-time private eye and war-time military intelligence officer Pat Abbott is posted to New Orleans along with his wife Jean during the closing days of World War II. Roger Clary, an army doctor friend, invites him to rent rooms in his aunt's French Quarter house and both Pat and Jean are thrilled with the accommodations until early one morning Jean stumbles upon a body in the garden."--P. [4] of cover.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, the story follows Pat and Jean Abbott as they navigate a gripping murder mystery in Britain. Amidst the chaos of war, the duo finds themselves entangled in a web of intrigue and danger, unraveling clues that lead them deeper into a perilous situation. The tension of the era adds a unique layer to their investigation, blending suspense with historical context.

Set against the backdrop of early World War II, the story follows Pat and Jean Abbott as they become embroiled in a murder mystery in New York City. With Pat on the brink of departing for the European theater, the tension escalates as the duo navigates the dangerous intrigue surrounding them. Their adventure combines elements of suspense and historical context, highlighting the challenges and uncertainties of the era.

This third outing In the Pat and Jean Abbott series is set in the early weeks of World War II at a time when everyone smoked and women wore girdles. Private detective Pat is back home in San Fancisco hours away from marrying Jean Holly when a fellow detective is murdered in his office, the only clue a yellow violet. As it so happens, a beautiful Spanish entertainer, a refugee fromt he Spanish Civil War--whose trade mark is the yellow violet--is in town on tour accompanied by her mother, her manager, and a dachshund named Pancho. Throw in a few Italian fascists ("They don't fight very well," says Pat, "but they know how to spy") and you've got enough trouble to halt anyone's nuptials. First published in 1942.

Set in a fictionalized Lawrenceville, Illinois, this mystery follows Jean Holly as she returns home to address family matters, drawing her friend Pat Abbott into a web of intrigue. The plot thickens when they become entangled in the murder of a despised local figure, the town tyrant. With a blend of suspense and small-town dynamics, the story explores themes of loyalty and justice, all while showcasing the unique characteristics of the era. First published in 1942, it offers a glimpse into the social climate of the time.

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.