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A Grave Talent Paperback – July 1, 1995

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 800 ratings

This gripping debut of the Kate Martinelli mystery series won the Edgar Award for Best First Mystery, generating wide critical acclaim and moving Laurie R. King into the upper tier of the genre. As A Grave Talent begins, the unthinkable has happened in a small community outside of San Francisco. A string of shocking murders has occurred, each victim an innocent child. For Detective Kate Martinelli, just promoted to Homicide and paired with a seasoned cop who's less than thrilled to be handed a green partner, it's going to be a difficult case. Then the detectives receive what appears to be a case-breaking lead: it seems that one of the residents of this odd, close-knit colony is Vaun Adams, arguably the century's greatest painter of women, a man, as it turns out, with a sinister secret. For behind the brushes and canvases also stands a notorious felon once convicted of strangling a little girl. What really happened on that day of savage violence eighteen years ago? To bring a murderer to justice, Kate must delve into the artist's dark past--even if she knows it means losing everything she holds dear.
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From the Publisher

Seventeen years ago, a jury found Vaun Adams guilty of strangling a six-year-old girl, and sent Vaun to prison. One year ago, an international panel of art critics judged her the century's greatest woman painter. Now children are dying again in the community of eccentrics where the notorious artist has taken shelter. Katarina Cecilia Martinelli (Casey to her friends, Kate to her few intimates), newly of the SFPD, and Alonzo Hawkin, in charge of the investigation, are charged with finding the truth: Is Vaun a murderess? Or is she the perfect victim?

From the Inside Flap

g debut of the Kate Martinelli mystery series won the Edgar Award for Best First Mystery, generating wide critical acclaim and moving Laurie R. King into the upper tier of the genre. As A Grave Talent begins, the unthinkable has happened in a small community outside of San Francisco. A string of shocking murders has occurred, each victim an innocent child. For Detective Kate Martinelli, just promoted to Homicide and paired with a seasoned cop who's less than thrilled to be handed a green partner, it's going to be a difficult case. Then the detectives receive what appears to be a case-breaking lead: it seems that one of the residents of this odd, close-knit colony is Vaun Adams, arguably the century's greatest painter of women, a man, as it turns out, with a sinister secret. For behind the brushes and canvases also stands a notorious felon once convicted of strangling a little girl. What really happened on that day of savage violence eighteen years ago? To bring a murderer to justice, Kate

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crimeline (July 1, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0553573993
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0553573992
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.21 x 0.99 x 6.87 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 800 ratings

About the author

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Laurie R. King
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New York Times bestselling crime writer Laurie R. King writes both series and standalone novels. For a complete list of her books in order, please visit http://www.laurierking.com/books/complete-book-list

In the Mary Russell series (first entry: The Beekeeper's Apprentice), fifteen-year-old Russell meets Sherlock Holmes on the Sussex Downs in 1915, becoming his apprentice, then his partner. The series follows their amiably contentious partnership into the 1920s as they challenge each other to ever greater feats of detection. For a complete list of the Mary Russell books in order, click here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B00CJLA42C/kindle/ref=sr_bookseries_null_B00CJLA42C.

The Kate Martinelli series, starting with A Grave Talent, concerns a San Francisco homicide inspector, her SFPD partner, and her life partner. In the course of the series, Kate encounters a female Rembrandt, a modern-day Holy Fool, two difficult teenagers, a manifestation of the goddess Kali and an eighty-year-old manuscript concerning Sherlock Holmes.

The Stuyvesant and Gray books feature Harris Stuyvesant, a Bureau of Investigation agent who finds himself far out of his depth, first in England during the 1926 General Strike (Touchstone), then in Paris during the sweltering confusion of September, 1929 (The Bones of Paris).

King also has written stand-alone novels--A Darker Place as well as two loosely linked novels, Folly and Keeping Watch--and a science fiction novel, Califia's Daughters, under the pseudonym Leigh Richards.

King grew up reading her way through libraries like a termite through balsa before going on to become a mother, builder, world traveler, and theologian.

She has now settled into a genteel life of crime, back in her native northern California. She has a secondary residence in cyberspace, where she enjoys meeting readers in her Virtual Book Club and on her blog.

King has won the Edgar and Creasey awards (for A Grave Talent), the Nero (for A Monstrous Regiment of Women) and the MacCavity (for Folly); her nominations include the Agatha, the Orange, the Barry, and two more Edgars. She was also given an honorary doctorate from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific.

Check out King's website, http://laurierking.com/, and follow the links to her blog and Virtual Book Club, featuring monthly discussions of her work, with regular visits from the author herself. And for regular LRK updates, follow the link to sign up for her email newsletter.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
800 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2024
This book was so compelling, I stayed up all night to finish it. Laurie King writes a complex, intricate mystery!
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2012
I am two decades behind on reading this book "A Grave Talent" (and now series) by Laurie King. Over a year ago, a friend introduced me to King's Mary Russell books and I was totally impressed. I never would have thought that I would accept, let alone enjoy, a book that had Holmes in a slowly evolving relationship with a young woman. Yet, "The Beekeeper's Apprentice" was cleverly written with a well crafted plot; the character development of Russell and Holmes was slowly and painstakingly crafted. The next several books in the series were just as well done; the evolving relationship between Russell and Holmes was superbly done all within a well developed turn of the century setting of Victorian England. I now wanted to know if it was just this series I liked, or was it King's writing; so I picked up "A Grave Talent" with hope, but uncertain expectations. I don't normally care for books that deal with children being murdered (serial killers of children), so I had no idea what really to expect. However, within the first several chapters, I began to realize that King was slowly grabbing my interest in a manner that was irresistible. She had also dealt with the subject of these murders with a sensitivity that allows one not to be turned off by it.

Now I know, as I was overwhelmed by her writing, that it is more than the Russell series, it is King's writing itself that fascinates me. The "A Grave Talent" story is very credible and the plot lines are so carefully and well crafted; she leaves subtle and careful clues of things to come - be it characterization or plot. The setting of modern San Francisco and her contemporary diction, as opposed to the Victorian diction from the Russell series, is well done. She instills in her characters a believability which takes them out of the trite or stereotypical detective story world into characters who you care about or simply find interesting.

This story introduces female detective Casey Martinelli and her partner Al Hawkins; the initial premise is a bit common place in today's detective stories - a veteran detective, Hawkins, is assigned a new, younger female partner, Kate Martinelli. Kate is not a rookie; she has studied and worked hard to relatively quickly move up in the ranks of the police department. Hawkin's has been assigned a high profile murder case of children, and he has been assigned, like it or not, this new female partner, Martinelli. The "higher ups" in the department want a female cop on the investigation of a little girl's murder, a bit of politics for the public. Together they investigate the murders of three little girls in what seems to be separate incidents, but the bodies are all found in the same isolated area called "The Road." Now, let the mystery unwind and go for a delightful ride.

Laurie King won the Edgar Award for best first novel over 20 years ago! I came to it late, as I did with her Mary Russell series. I was not disappointed, and I am looking forward to reading more of Martinelli and Russell too. I strongly recommend that anyone who enjoys a well crafted book that not only makes you think, but delivers great enjoyment, to read Laurie King!
12 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2024
I read this book years ago when it was first published. On a whim, I decided to reread it when I saw it on sale for Kindle. I'm glad I did. I have always loved L.R. King's Mary Russell series and I find myself startled at the similarities and the differences in the two. I think I'm going to be rereading the entire series now. I'd definitely recommend it.
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2006
A Grave Talent is the first novel written by Laurie R. King. it is also the first in a series of mysteries that features the detective Kate Martinelli, A lesbian detective in the San Francisco Police Department. It won the 1993 Edgar Award for Best First Novel.

In this book Kate has just been promoted to detective and is assigned to work with a seasoned male detective who has recently transferred from Los Angeles. The case involves young girls who are strangled, but not molested, and left on the grounds of a rural gated community which is a home to various unconventional folks. When a famous female artist, who is living in the community under another name, turns out to be an ex-con who was convicted of murdering a child, it appears they have their culprit. Yet after meeting her, they start to have their doubts.

At first the young inexperienced woman and the hardened male detecive seem an odd couple that will not get along. Yet the novel is as much about their finding commonalities, and finally friendship, as it is about solving the high-profile case. This turns out to be a strong start to a mystery series that will deal with character development as well as criminal activity.

Laurie King has also written the Mary Russell series of historical mysteries involving a young woman and an older detective, the fictional Sherlock Holmes. She seems at home with the older man/young woman dynamics of both these series and brings a very human side to her characters while writing convincing mysteries.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2023
I first read this book not long after it came out. But when I started it again last week all I could really remember about it was an artist with an orange crayon. Maybe I wasn’t mature enough for it back then. Now, after my second reading I don’t see how I could possibly ever forget it again. There’s joy, evil, growth, self-control, and, under everything, a very deep love for the city of San Francisco.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2024
I had never read the first book in the Kate Martinelli series (I had read Books
2-4) and I was excited to read this. It was nice to see how Kate Martinelli
started and her professional and personal life as she and her partner investigate
missing children who turn up dead. Who is being this and can they find them
before another dies? Must read.
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2008
I really enjoyed Laurie King's "The Beekeeper's Apprentice", so I looked forward to reading this introduction to a new female detective in San Francisco, Kate Martinelli. Unfortunately I thought the book, though well-written, was not a very interesting mystery. There was a highly contrived device to place all suspicion in one small cmmunity, a way too obvious suspect and not enough believable development of some of the main characters. I agree with previous criticism that Martinelli's partner is supposed to be tough and demanding, but he turns into a pussycat in a couple of pages and for the rest of the book. Also, the main suspect is constantly described as more remarkable and special than just about anyone else on the planet, but we're always just TOLD that, rarely SHOWN it.

This is NOT a horrible book. Just not great. I don't resent the time I spent on it, but I won't read another in the series either.
5 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2021
King's storytelling is beautifully crafted and compelling. Her command of the language is stunning and leaves most crime fiction/mystery writers far behind. If you haven't discovered Laurie King yet, do so at once.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

SoniaWilkinsonArt
5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing.
Reviewed in Canada on January 13, 2018
Any book that draws me in effortlessly and releases me back into my own life with regret deserves five stars.
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well-done whodunnit!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 13, 2013
This is the first Kate Martinelli story I've read, although I have long been a great fan of Laurie R. King's for her Mary Russel stories.

The plot is surprising, and one is forced to keep back one's breath almost until the last page for fear of evil befalling the heroine and her surroundings. Fortunately, there is also a brief space for catching one's breath at the end, otherwise the reader would surely die of lack of oxygen!

Also, I find that the book raises the issue of homosexuality in a very noble and poignant manner, and I, as a European and as a Dane reading the book in 2013, twenty years after its first being published, am let to glimpse at what was, and presumably still is, a very difficult situation, especially if you are working as a servant of the public as is Kate Martinelli.

All in all I am of the opinion that this book is not only a truly great read, it also shows great sympathy with those not cast in the same mould as what is usually accepted by society. Laurie R. King has time and again shown us that she masters those characters who stand apart in thought, in body, in religion, in sexuality. Frankly my dears, I do give a damn!

Laurie R. King gives an amazing and glorious experience with every book - "A Grave Talent" not the least.

Susanne K.A. Nielsen
3 people found this helpful
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A. W. Wilson
4.0 out of 5 stars The First in a new(?) thriller series
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2017
I never fail to be amazed at how opinions can differ!! I approached this book with some trepidation. I have read and enjoyed (nearly) all the Mary Russell books, and wondered if this would match up. Well I think it does. A good plot with characters you can like and understand and plenty of twists and turns. Kate Martinelli is a strong lead, and the writing is pacey and I really wanted to keep on turning pages till the final chapter. I can't be more enthusiastic than to say I will now order the second book. Highly recomended to lovers of American crime thrillers. P.S I was surprised to see the book was written in 1993.
S Higgins
5.0 out of 5 stars great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 29, 2015
fabulous book, delivered as promised.
Freda G
3.0 out of 5 stars Took a while to get into it but eventually found ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2015
Took a while to get into it but eventually found it interesting especially her relationship with her partners (both at work and home). Would look out for more of the same.