The Bughouse Affair

Apr 16, 2013 JBradford rated it 2 of 5 stars

I have admitted before that I sometimes select books based on their cover. That was the case in this one; I was looking for a mystery to get away from my recent fantasy/science fiction kick, and here was one that was clearly different. The protagonists are shown on the cover with clothing going back to at least the turn of the last century. They are a couple – or rather, they are a man and a woman; he is a dashing, tall and fairly broad shouldered young fellow with a nicely trimmed beard, she is...more I have admitted before that I sometimes select books based on their cover. That was the case in this one; I was looking for a mystery to get away from my recent fantasy/science fiction kick, and here was one that was clearly different. The protagonists are shown on the cover with clothing going back to at least the turn of the last century. They are a couple – or rather, they are a man and a woman; he is a dashing, tall and fairly broad shouldered young fellow with a nicely trimmed beard, she is a comely high breasted woman in what looks like a red satin dress carrying a parasol wearing a wide brim hat. The cover flap informed me that they are co-owners of a detective agency in San Francisco, and that he is former Secret Service while she is a former Pinkerton operative. I was also informed that this is the first in a series of books that will feature them — and, based on the title, also a third person, who claims to be the recently deceased Sherlock Holmes. The book is written in the third person with each chapter (or most of it) tracking whatever happens to one or the other of the two detectives. At the beginning of the book, John Quincannon, the male partner, has just picked up a new assignment — he has been hired by the head of a local insurance company to stop a series of burglaries and to recover the goods that have already been stolen. At the same time, Sabina Carpenter, the female partner, has also picked up a new case — she has been hired by the owner of an amusement park to stop a female pickpocket who has been preying on the park customers. It turns out that these two co-owners started their detective business strictly professionally, but that Quincannon would now like to make it more personal. I decided before I was halfway through the book that the only real tension was the issue of whether or not these two were going to wind up in bed together. The mysteries are neither mysterious nor believable, and most of the characters and dialogue seems incredibly hackneyed, if not trite. I think the authors probably did some homework to get their locale descriptions; they list four books as sources but one of them is irrelevant. The trouble is that the descriptions come across as if they were copied out of their workbooks. I just could not accept that people acted like this or talked like this in the last decade of the 18th century. Similarly, I was a little bothered by the convenience with which Sabina whips out a flint when she wants to explore the darkness inside a carriage barn but then a few pages further on flips on an electric light so that she can examine the litter in the office of a down-at-the-heels lawyer; I have a problem believing that even clever young ladies carried around with them flints that could act as torches, and I also seriously question whether scruffy San Francisco lawyers had electric lights in their offices in 1894.

I will not be bothering to look for subsequent novels in the series.

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Apr 04, 2013 Jon rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book came highly recommended to me, and I remember years ago reading short stories by Bill Pronzini (co-author) that I thought were very clever. And this one had a couple of clever aspects: set in San Francisco in 1894, it includes a character who thinks he's Sherlock Holmes (and may actually be the great sleuth) even though the principal detectives know that he died last year at Reichenbach Falls.The book also includes a double locked-room murder in which the corpse is found in a locked ro...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Helen rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Bughouse Affair, by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini, is the first in their Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series. This series is set in the nineteenth century in San Francisco and stars Sabina Carpenter (a former Pinkerton operative) and John Quincannon (an ex-Secret Service agent).

The time period allows for an interesting backdrop to the story. We get to see the Barbary Coast as it was at that time. There are even pirates and what we today would call whore houses, but back then were calle...more The Bughouse Affair, by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini, is the first in their Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series. This series is set in the nineteenth century in San Francisco and stars Sabina Carpenter (a former Pinkerton operative) and John Quincannon (an ex-Secret Service agent).

The time period allows for an interesting backdrop to the story. We get to see the Barbary Coast as it was at that time. There are even pirates and what we today would call whore houses, but back then were called houses of joy. And, yes, of course there are murders and robbery and thievery, and even piracy. There's even a man claiming to be Sherlock Holmes. But how can he be Sherlock Holmes? Holmes is dead ... or isn't he?

Carpenter and Quincannon remind me of Sherlock and Watson. Carpenter and Quincannon are working separate cases and don't work together often, but they employ the same methods of detection and deducing. When their separate cases come together, they join forces to solve both of the cases they were working.

I especially enjoyed seeing a female detective on equal footing of the male, which I suspect would have been unusual in this time period. The story and the characters are believable and strong. It doesn't take long to pick up on the lingo of the time and it's fun to trek along with them through the streets and bowels of early day San Francisco. They go and search many places that I, a wimp, would have avoided.

This has the makings of a new great series. So, if you like historical mysteries, get The Bughouse Affair and get in on it from the beginning.

I give The Bughouse Affair by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini a rating of Hel-of-a-Story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by a publicist with Tor/Forge. I was asked if I would like to read the book. I said yes. I was not asked to write a review. But I did. I have never met Marcia Muller. Nor have I ever met Bill Pronzini. I have never met John Quincannon, nor have I met Sabina Carpenter. Okay, the last two are characters, not real people, although they seemed real as I read their story. In fact, I think perhaps Sabina and I are related. Cousins, once or thrice removed. I mean, we must be. Carpenter was my maiden name. If Muller and Pronzini ever set one of the series' books in Austin, I'll invite Sabina over for tea and barbecue. That's what cousins do.
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Mar 25, 2013 Luanne Ollivier rated it 3 of 5 stars

Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini? Each of them is an accomplished and award winning mystery author, but they also happen to be husband and wife.

The Bughouse Affair is the first novel they've written together in over twenty years.

1890's San Francisco. Sabina Carpenter, a former Pinkerton Detective Agency operative and ex-Secret Service agent John Quincannon have joined forces and opened a successful detective agency of their own. Sabina is hunting for a female pickpocket who does more than nick wa...more Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini? Each of them is an accomplished and award winning mystery author, but they also happen to be husband and wife.

The Bughouse Affair is the first novel they've written together in over twenty years.

1890's San Francisco. Sabina Carpenter, a former Pinkerton Detective Agency operative and ex-Secret Service agent John Quincannon have joined forces and opened a successful detective agency of their own. Sabina is hunting for a female pickpocket who does more than nick wallets. John is on the lookout for a break and enter thief who is targeting the wealthy residents of San Fran.

This is a definitely a light hearted series. There's lots of banter between the two lead characters as well as some romantic tension. But, I felt I was just getting to know this pair, when another character was introduced - a man claiming to be Sherlock Holmes. He swears he survived his last encounter with Moriarty, is laying low in America and would like to observe the Carpenter/Quincannon Agency in action. As this is the first book featuring this duo, I thought the introduction of such a well known name and character a bit distracting. Although Quincannon swears this character is a 'bughouse' impostor, readers will recognize mannerisms, language and sleuthing abilities as written by Doyle.

The mysteries are not overly complicated but are 'cozy' in tone. I did enjoy the period descriptions and settings, including slang of this time period.

I chose to listen to The Bughouse Affair. There were two readers - Nick Sullivan and Meredith Mitchell. Sullivan has one of the most precise and clearest voices I've heard in a long time. His diction is excellent - every syllable of each word is easily distinguished. He did an admirable job bringing Quincannon to life, with lots of expression in his reading. He also did a good job with his reading of Holmes, including the accent. Mitchell's voice, although pleasant enough and well modulated, was too monotone for me. She is the more level headed of the two partners and perhaps a calming, even toned reader was chosen for this reason. She just never matched her partner for expression.

The book is written in opposite chapters - one for John, then Sabina. What I found puzzling was that each reader only read their character's chapter. So, when John is speaking to Sabina in one of 'her' chapters it is the female narrator reading all the parts. So, in effect you have two interpretations of each character. I think it would have been much better all round to have each reader do all of their character's lines, regardless of whose chapter it was.

This was an light listen for the drive back and forth to work.

(And this is a minor quibble, but I dislike having actual faces on the cover of a book. I prefer to paint my own mental images from the author's words, rather than a marketing department's idea of what the characters should look like.) (less)

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Feb 17, 2013 Mary rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-mystery, mystery

The book starts off well, with snappy banter between the two detectives. And then (a possibly fake) Sherlock Holmes shows up. Frankly, the writers seemed more interested in writing Holmes than their own characters.

(view spoiler)...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Max Read rated it 3 of 5 stars

“A mystery novel from early American times- with a touch of English folklore”

For thirty-some years, Marcia Muller has authored over 35 novels--three of them in collaboration with husband Bill Pronzini--seven short-story collections, and numerous nonfiction articles. Together she and Pronzini have edited a dozen anthologies and a nonfiction book on the mystery genre. In 2005 Muller was named a Grand Master by Mystery Writers of America, the organization’s highest award. Pronzini was named Grand M...more “A mystery novel from early American times- with a touch of English folklore”

For thirty-some years, Marcia Muller has authored over 35 novels--three of them in collaboration with husband Bill Pronzini--seven short-story collections, and numerous nonfiction articles. Together she and Pronzini have edited a dozen anthologies and a nonfiction book on the mystery genre. In 2005 Muller was named a Grand Master by Mystery Writers of America, the organization’s highest award. Pronzini was named Grand Master in 2008, making them the only living couple to share the award (the other being Margaret Millar ad Ross Macdonald).

“The Bughouse affair” takes place in the 1890’s in a San Francisco area setting. The story features an otherwise unlikely partnership in a detective agency by one Sabina Carpenter, a former Pinkerton detective – “Pink Rose” and John Quincannon a former secret service agent. Together they run the Carpenter and Quincannon Detective Agency. The drama begins with two seemingly distinct cases, each pursued separately by the respective detectives. In the one case, Sabrina is after a pick-pocket and Quincannon a burglar. As the plot thickens, the illustrious detectives find themselves at the root of two mysterious murders; and to the detective’s chagrin, the perpetrators are seemingly uncovered by none other than the renowned Sherlock Holmes.

The thread of circumstantial evidence finds its way to be exposed in much the manner that Mr. Holmes would aspire had Mr. Doyle written the composition. To this end the mystery was plausibly solved though the participation of Sherlock Holmes seemed altogether unnecessary, however quaint. In all, the novel was a fun read, with some comical banter and light hearted confrontations. The mystery part was not overly complex and a worthy sleuth would have figured out a good deal of it, but this did not appreciably detract from the work. The characters were well portrayed and Carpenter and Quincannon a likable lot, if a bit overdone. The writing was good, though smattered with era expressions that may well be lost on the reader.

All and all the novel is not particularly memorable, but just the same, a worthy addition to your list of leisurely reading; for this I would recommend it be added.
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Feb 08, 2013 Grandmama rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Grandmama by: Margaret

Shelves: mj-book

Review of Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzoni’s historical mystery THE BUGHOUSE AFFAIR

This may well be the beginning of a very enjoyable mystery series. Like other successful series the authors have chosen a fascinating city, San Francisco, and a fascinating time period the, 1890’s. The heroine is adept in her deductive powers and does her job well. Her partner in the detective agency is a possible hero in the series but he has lots of flaws. He is much too boastful and confident in his deductive ab...more

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Feb 05, 2013 David Monroe rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 19th-century, cozy-mystery, crime, detective, historical-fiction

There are many things wrong and I could nit-pick. There are many things I enjoyed, too. The main problem for me, is that this is the fourth in Bill Pronzini's Quincannon series and first in the Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery, jointly written with his wife - noted mystery author, Marcia Muller. For me and I'm sure for many readers, it was our entree into these characters. So why add the extra distraction of including the most famous fictional Detective in modern history? In the Carpenter/Quinca...more There are many things wrong and I could nit-pick. There are many things I enjoyed, too. The main problem for me, is that this is the fourth in Bill Pronzini's Quincannon series and first in the Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery, jointly written with his wife - noted mystery author, Marcia Muller. For me and I'm sure for many readers, it was our entree into these characters. So why add the extra distraction of including the most famous fictional Detective in modern history? In the Carpenter/Quincannon universe, Sherlock Holmes is a real person. He died a few years before. Now a "Bughouse" Londoner has shown up in San Francisco claiming to be Holmes. Except he's on the QT. Not even Watson knows he's still alive. So don't tell anyone. Except he does. All the time. He looks like Holmes. Dresses like Holmes. Plays the violin like Holmes and *calls* himself Holmes! This is set in 1894, a time when they have cameras, wax recording cylinders, telephones, telegraph and newspapers -- so why does one of the cleverest men in the world think no one would freak out because Sherlock Frickin Holmes is back from the dead? Well, they don't. No one believes him. I suppose because he seems very Holmes-lite. Think of the portrayal of Holmes in CBS' Elementary, which is more House and Monk (both, ironically Holmes knock-off) than BBC's Sherlock. So why would the authors throw in this really distracting -- is he or isn't he -- red herring into the first book of their new series? I wanted to get to know the characters but I was constantly Holmes-blocked. I've never read any of Mr. Pronzini's works, but I'm a fan of Ms. Muller's Sharon McCone series. Once she hit her stride, the characters in the McCone series became very fleshed out. We knew them. In later books, I think most fans read them not so much for the mystery but to catch-up on Sharon's life and the growing supporting cast. That's what surprised me so much about this book. The Bughouse Affair felt like the first few books in the McCone series. Tentative and clumsy but with promise. Except in those early McCone books, we were watching a good writer mature and grow into her craft. Now, this writing team has probably 50+ years and 100 books and dozens of awards between them - it's very surprising and ultimately, disappointing.(less)

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Feb 03, 2013 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed this first book of a new series of “lighthearted historical mysteries set in 1890s San Francisco”. It was rich with period details (a little too much at times), especially of the Barbary Coast, which was a red-light district known for gambling, prostitution and crime. Former Pinkerton operative Sabina Carpenter and ex-Secret Service agent John Quincannon, own a detective agency and have been working together for three years now. In this story, Sabina is hired to find the woman who pick...more I enjoyed this first book of a new series of “lighthearted historical mysteries set in 1890s San Francisco”. It was rich with period details (a little too much at times), especially of the Barbary Coast, which was a red-light district known for gambling, prostitution and crime. Former Pinkerton operative Sabina Carpenter and ex-Secret Service agent John Quincannon, own a detective agency and have been working together for three years now. In this story, Sabina is hired to find the woman who pickpockets at an Amusement Park and Quincannon is hired to investigate a series of house burglaries. Sherlock Holmes makes an appearance as the two detectives narrow down their searches that lead to a related case.

Both Quincannon and Sabina are great characters, but Quincannon was my favorite. He is hot-tempered, impulsive and a man of action. He's fearless as he navigates the dangerous streets of old San Francisco. He's also starting to pine after Sabina, wishing their relationship would take a more romantic turn, but Sabina keeps things professional. She's a widow who still misses her husband. She's calm, cool and collected. She's also empathetic and kind. Both are smart, observant and good detectives, but Quincannon had me cracking up when his feathers got ruffled by Sherlock Holmes. He is also quite humorous in his description of people and situations. He is proud, opinionated and independent, and I thought his flaws made him a great character.

This audiobook has two narrators who alternate as do the point-of-views of the two main characters. I really enjoyed Sullivan's narration as it suited the character of John Quincannon. His deep timbre captured well Quincannon's confidence and his sarcasm toward those who meddled into his investigations. He did an excellent rendition of Sherlock Holmes, nailing not only the English accent but the personality behind it. Sullivan was able to easily change tones between character voices and accents.

Meredith Mitchell's narration was okay. She has a pleasant voice that did suit the more serious Sabina, but at times it was too monotone for me. She wasn't as skilled as Sullivan in changing accents from one character to the next.

The Bughouse Affair was a good mystery with some smart sleuthing work. It had a bit of a slow start, (probably to set the stage for the series) but picked up momentum when Sherlock Holmes made an appearance and--much to Quincannon's frustration--ended up assisting in solving the case. I would be interested in reading more of this new series. Oh, and I love that cover. It portrays the two main characters very well.

Note: This audiobook contains a few religious expletives and some crude language.
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Mar 07, 2013 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-thriller

The mystery part of the story is ok. It demonstrates that private detective work consists of a lot of legwork and some deductive reasoning. This book is advertised as the first Carpenter and Quincannon, the names of the two main characters, mystery. So a lot of time is spent developing these two characters. In the end Carpenter is more well-developed, sympathetic, and interesting of the two. Quincannon comes off as arrogant, egotistical, and a bit of a dumb brute. They should dump him and find m...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Sharon rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book about the Carpenter/Quincannon detective agency set in the 1890s in San Francisco. Sabina Carpenter is a widow who left Pinkerman's to join John Quincannon who used to be in the Secret Service in their own private detective agency. Quincannon's case is for an insurance company whose holders have been victims of burglary and Sabina's involves a pickpocket. Their cases end up intersecting along the way. I found the characters of John and Sabina delightful. Unfortunately, they d...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Hazel West rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: not-worth-the-time

Thoughts on the Overall Book: This was one of those books that I was mildly interested in enough to finish, but it wasn't great either, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. It was there to fill idle time, but there was nothing about it that made me sit and read half the book in one sitting either. Apart from that, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be at first.

Cover--Yea or Nay: Undecided. It's not the worst character impressions I have seen; Quincannon is okay, but I don't care for Sabina...more Thoughts on the Overall Book: This was one of those books that I was mildly interested in enough to finish, but it wasn't great either, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. It was there to fill idle time, but there was nothing about it that made me sit and read half the book in one sitting either. Apart from that, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be at first.

Cover--Yea or Nay: Undecided. It's not the worst character impressions I have seen; Quincannon is okay, but I don't care for Sabina.

Characters: Well, I did genuinely like Sabina, which was a surprise to me since I am usually wary of female characters in positions such as detectives in time periods when women didn't do that often, if at all; but while Sabina states that she approves of the "New Woman" she doesn't come across as a stupid suffragette type. She's sensible, she has no attitude, and she wasn't all like "oh, I'm the best because I'm a lady detective." Also, her human qualities like love of food, and hatpins endeared me to her for some reason. She wasn't as quirky as I usually like my detective characters, but she was okay, and I didn't have any problems with her. Quincannon on the other hand, rubbed me the wrong way. He was just an arrogant, conceited snob at the best of times. He could never admit to being wrong, carried a bee in his bonnet all the time, and never learned humility. Of course, I disliked him as soon as I found out he had what I can only term as 'lustful' feelings towards Sabina. Thankfully, it wasn't reiterated upon throughout the whole book, but it was enough to put him on my black list. Sabina gained even more respect from me for refusing his advances, ignoring him, and well she should considering she is a new widow who loved her husband. She also didn't care for Quincannon's arrogance any more than I did. If I were her, I never would have partnered with the man.

One problem I had was that I usually like partnerships because the characters play off each other. For one, Sabina and Quincannon, don't really have a lot of character, or quirkiness that makes a partnership work. For two, they hardly worked together at all. This probably would have bothered me more, if I liked both of them equally. However, I am undecided in whether I prefered it this way or not. If Quincannon was more likable and had more of a personality apart from being arrogant, I might have been more upset.

Also, the not "Sherlock Holmes" was just bloody annoying, but more on him later.

The Romance: None, and I hope it continues that way.

Writing Style: In truth, it was amateur. This book really felt like a first attempt, in fact, I could have given more leeway if it was a debut novel. However, since these authors are "award winning" this just doesn't cut it for me. It's filled with amateur mistakes, like putting WAY too much information in the first two chapters. So much so, that I nearly put the book down then. That is not expectable, especially in a mystery novel. Apart from that, the characters, while I did like Sabina, were just not that well crafted. They felt like people you know, but who are not like your best friends that you know a everything about. They were there, but kind of two-dimensional. The mystery too, was kind of mediocre and I had guessed it about half way through the novel. The dialogue and a lot of the wording was bland and had flow issues as well as clumsy wording, again, amateur mistakes. Also, this is just a nit picky thing, but I noticed that some of the slang, while most was American, there were a few words that I recognized from British slang that did not mean what they are meant to in this story. for example, "yaffle" to my knowledge meant "to yell" whereas in this story it was used to mean "nicked" or "apprehend". it's probably more a case of the Americans changing words the British use as is still happening today much to my chagrin.

Problems/What bothered me: Apart from the previous complaints, my main, huge complaint on the story was the inclusion of Sherlock Holmes. At first, I thought it was someone pretending to be Holmes and I would have been okay with that, but no, it's actually the "real" Sherlock Holmes (this is supposedly after Reichenbach and Holmes has come to America to hide out for a while while he's supposed dead) . My first problem with that, is that I do not like the idea of Sherlock Holmes being more then a fictional character in books unless they are cannon spin-offs or whatever. That was the first mark against it. Secondly, this was the worst interpretation of Holmes I have seen since that awful American tv show "Elementary". So awful in fact, that I really couldn't believe this was actually Holmes and not an impostor. He used every bloody quip and quote everyone and their mothers quotes from the series like "The Game's afoot" and "Elementary" and all the rest. He wore the typical deerstalker hat and inverness cape, and was so cartoony he was like a Halloween costume. Not to mention the fact that he was so blasted annoying. Holmes never annoyed me in the original series, and if this is what these authors think he was really like (they claimed in the author's note that their Sherlock Holmes was "As true to Conan Doyle's description of the original Sherlock Holmes as the nature and dictates of the story permitted". *laugh laugh sarcastic laugh*) If this was the "real" Holmes I never would have become a faithful Sherlockian because I never would have gotten through the first story. I have no idea why these authors saw the need to put Holmes into this story, unless it was a gimmick to get people to read it, and the people who would be interested to see Holmes in a story would hate it just as much as I did. The inclusion of Holmes only underrated their own detectives. I just don't understand.

Conclusion: 2 stars for the inclusion of the fake Sherlock. I probably won't continue this series unless I'm really desperate. I fear it's one that can only get worse.

Recommended Audience: I don't really know who to recommend this to, since it wasn't just my personal qualms that kept me from really enjoying it but common sense in the fact that it was just poorly written. I would suggest though that hard core Sherlockians not read this.(less)

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Jan 22, 2013 Tracy Pierce rated it 4 of 5 stars

Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini, both well known mystery writers, have written this interesting detective novel. The two main characters live in San Francisco in the 1890's and own a detective agency. Sabina Carpenter and John Quincannon have been hired to find a pickpocket and a burglar. They are a team but work separately since they both have their own way of doing things. During the investigations they meet a man who claims to be Sherlock Holmes although he supposedly died in a waterfall acci...more

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Apr 09, 2013 dOnnabud rated it 2 of 5 stars

i enthusiastically anticipated this new series from one of my favorite writers (marcia muller) and co-writing teams (muller with pronzini). sadly, the story failed to captivate me and i ended up skimming through most of the story to get to the final pages.

i enjoyed the historical san francisco setting and the concept of including sherlock holmes in the story-line, but the descriptions seemed shallow, the characters two-dimensional. it was as if the story was written too quickly, with too little...more

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Apr 02, 2013 Karyl rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, library-reads, mysteries, historical-fiction

I don't usually read mysteries, and I'd never heard of either author before I noticed this book at the library. The idea of a novel set in 1890s San Francisco was intriguing. The problem is, I didn't care for this book. Each detective had his own case to pursue, and even though the story came together at the end, it didn't seem like a very cohesive plot line. And the writing was a little too cliché for me, peppered with Victorian idioms that were never really explained.

I doubt I'll pick up any...more

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Feb 25, 2013 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, historical

3.5 Stars. I'll admit right off, that half star is because one of the mains used two of my favorite epithets, 'Bah' and 'Pshaw'. Yep, sometimes it is that easy.

This was a quiet little mystery with two leads, the two detectives of the Carpenter and Quincannon detective agency. The two characters were interesting and I enjoyed watching them chase down leads and get their targets through thought and action.

The story was a bit slow at the start, which can be expected from the first of a series, but...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Sandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery

This book was a pleasant read. It seemed a little flat to me. I wanted more. I liked the pairing of Carpenter and Quincannon, but there wasn't very much interaction between the two of them. I wanted both of their characters individually to be more fleshed out.

I wonder if the introduction of Sherlock Holmes (allegedly) was a mistake when introducing the series as the characters each interacted more with him than with each other. And it really just reminded me of how much I want another Steve Hoc ...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Colleen Votour rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fun quick read. I've been reading Marcia Muller for years, not since the beginning but pretty darn close. You can just see how much she enjoyed writing this book about her beloved San Francisco in the 1890s. My ignorance is showing here, but who would think there would have been a female detective in that time period?

Her books are always well researched, Locked In, being a great example. and this book is no exception. I only hesitate giving it 5 stars as I found the potential Sherlock Holmes ch...more

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Feb 01, 2013 Alissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

There were several interesting elements in this story that led me to pick it up and try it. . . late 1800's San Francisco, mystery, and Sherlock Holmes. However, the Sherlock Holmes part was disappointing. I found him quite annoying, which has never been a problem I've run into before. It could be that when I read about him with Watson as my narrator I'm getting the story from someone who actually likes him. In this book the two narrators think he is pushing himself into their case and they aren...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Candace (Lovey Dovey Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-mystery

The Bughouse Affair is mystery at it's most logical form. Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini, a husband and wife writing team, introduce readers to the Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series.

19th century San Francisco houses the competent Carpenter and Quincannon, Professional Detective Services. Both Sabina and John have been hired for separate jobs involving sly thieves, one a pickpocketing woman targeting men, and the other is an unidentifiable housebreaker. After being unable to apprehend susp...more The Bughouse Affair is mystery at it's most logical form. Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini, a husband and wife writing team, introduce readers to the Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series.

19th century San Francisco houses the competent Carpenter and Quincannon, Professional Detective Services. Both Sabina and John have been hired for separate jobs involving sly thieves, one a pickpocketing woman targeting men, and the other is an unidentifiable housebreaker. After being unable to apprehend suspects and going round in round in circles, their cases merge in what will be a surprising twist and unforgettable beginning. With the help of a Sherlock Holmes imposter the mystery is treated with the usual detailed observations, plus tried and true, and sometimes unorthodox, methods of deduction. While Muller and Pronzini take their time wrapping up the mystery, with the mild, casual buildup of suspense and unpredictable plot, the main characters' dealings with each other and suspects range between witty and warranting a deeper look into their personal lives.

The prose of the novel is scenery-oriented, specifically the streets and neighborhoods of San Francisco. Muller and Pronzini were sure to add in tidbits, historical or fun, about the seedy or rich neighborhoods and specific streets that made it seem as though they both may have first-hand knowledge, or done very extensive research. It wasn't just the brightly colored language, but mostly the indulgence of that detailed information, which served to send readers to 1894. However, it seemed to take up time when the following scenes beckoned for attention.

The Bughouse Affair is an opening novel to a series that is definitely worth taking the time to read, and continue with the next release. With much more to come of Sabina Carpenter and John Quincannon, as down-to-earth people and incredibly talented detectives, that Muller and Pronzini allude to, readers will not be able to resist!
*Copy of novel provided via publisher in exchange for an honest review*

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Mar 16, 2013 Marlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally published at Reading Reality

At the beginning, it felt like I was missing something. Like any detective, I started to hunt for that elusive clue. But I didn't hunt hard enough until after I'd finished the book.

I do enjoy the occasional mystery, and historic mysteries in particular. Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini are both certified masters of their craft, but I had never gotten around to sampling either of their long-running series.

The Bughouse Affair, the first volume in their joint C...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Bughouse Affair the first book in a new historical mystery series set in San Francisco during the 1890’s offered up interesting characters and two cases that become intertwined. The tale features former Pinkerton operative Sabina Carpenter and John Quincannon, a former secret service agent who together have opened their own detective agency. I quickly became caught up in the mysteries and the character claiming to be none other than Sherlock Holmes himself.

The detective offices of Carpenter...more The Bughouse Affair the first book in a new historical mystery series set in San Francisco during the 1890’s offered up interesting characters and two cases that become intertwined. The tale features former Pinkerton operative Sabina Carpenter and John Quincannon, a former secret service agent who together have opened their own detective agency. I quickly became caught up in the mysteries and the character claiming to be none other than Sherlock Holmes himself.

The detective offices of Carpenter and Quincannon have two cases they are working on. He is working on a case for an insurance company where a series of burglaries involving insurance holders leads them to believe someone has gotten a hold of their client list. She is trying to catch a clever pickpocket who is robbing people at Chutes Amusement Park and affecting their business. The two cases seem completely unrelated but clues begin to make them fear otherwise. While trying to apprehend the housebreaker, Quincannon is detained by a man professing to be the dead man Sherlock Holmes. The tale that unfolds was suspenseful, witty and reminded me of old detective novels.

Muller and Pronzini did an excellent job of introducing us to Carpenter and Quincannon. I got a real sense for these quirky detectives, and found them to be amusing and confident. I loved how Holmes unnerved them, especially the overly confident, easily ruffled Quincannon. Sabina is still morning the loss of her husband, a former detective at Pinkerton and he has made his feelings for her well known. I found their banter to be delightful and funny. While there is no romance in this first book, the possibility is there. Holmes or whoever this man is was perfectly portrayed as the pompous, long-winded detective himself. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes involving him and his clever sleuthing skills. The cast of suspects, informants and clients all added to the tale and were well fleshed out as well.

The world building and use of period language was very well done. The author(s) descriptions of both San Francisco and the people of this era came to life. The plot unfolded at a nice pace, and escalated towards the end with a few twists to my delight. I did figure out the case, before it was revealed and thought the how and why was clever. I found the terminology for criminals, and other creatures that inhabited the shadier streets to be fascinating. It does slow the reading pace as there are a lot of terms, suspects, places and facts to take it but it was such fun! I am looking forward to their next case.
I want to thank Tor/Forge for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer (less)

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Mar 10, 2013 A.M. rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really did enjoy this novel! I don't think I've been this excited about a novel in such a long time, but the way they incorporated Sherlock Holmes into it was just brilliant. You can tell, for the most part, that the authors did their homework on the Sherlock Holmes series (although the hat seemed a bit questionable). The main characters, Quincannon and Carpenter, are just wonderfully written! They seem very multidimensional. I cannot wait to hear more about these two detectives :).

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Apr 25, 2013 Paul rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have always been able to count of Pronzini for engaging, tightly-plotted mysteries and I have really enjoyed the Sharon McCone series, but Muller and Pronzini have stumbled a bit here. It's a crackerjack mystery, but the plot, especially in the first half of the book, drags behind passages detailing each character's back story and guidebook-like disquisitions on late nineteenth century San Francisco. Too much exposition! Moreover the Sherlock Holmes is more cardboard than credible. I expected...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Vickie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a don't-judge-a-book-by-its-cover situation. If I'd seen the book I never would have picked it up because of the insipid cover art. But, it's by a favorite crime novelist, so I thought I'd give it a try. Set in 1890s San Francisco, it's the story of a pair of private investigators that's likely to become a series. A certain fictional character (unnamed to avoid a spoiler) figures in the plot.

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Dec 09, 2012 Sandy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: src-winter-2012-read, mystery-suspense-thriller, read-in-2013

I was really disappointed in this book. I love the Sharon McCone series, and I've read a couple of the Nameless Detective books by Pronzini and liked them as well, so I had high hopes for this one.

It seems that with the current vogue for "period mysteries," there seems to be a huge emphasis on the "period" and not so much on the "mystery." Fairly weak stories, characters who aren't particularly compelling, but loads of details to show how much the author has researched the period. For me, at lea...more

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May 13, 2013 Teri Stich rated it 4 of 5 stars

Marcia Muller has done it again, this time with a brand new series "Carpenter & Quincannon Mystery". The first of this series :The Bughouse Affair is a fun, lighthearted mystery taking place in 1890s. Sabina and John are entertaining and do I see a love story developing?? There is even a Sherlock Holmes impersonator or is he for real? I can only hope this is a long series and they continue where this one started!!

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May 05, 2013 Jennifer Gelert rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a well written book. Did not have me on the edge of my seat, like other thriller/mystery books. But there was enough to keep me interested. Set in the 1890's with a man and woman detective agency solving 2 separate crimes that seemed to connect. The highlight for me was a man claiming to be Sherlock Holmes. He ended up getting involved in the investigation and that drove John, one of the investigators crazy.

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Feb 26, 2013 Arlene Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-mystery

I think the series has a lot of potential to grow into a solid addition to historical mystery fare. The only thing I didn't like was all of the slang, which made all of the characters sound cheap rather than authentic. I love the descriptions of old San Francisco, and I rather like Sabina. Of Quincannon I have no comment! I will certainly look forward to the next book in the series.

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Apr 23, 2013 William rated it 3 of 5 stars

Living in the San Francisco Bay Area made the setting for this book (1894 San Francisco) very interesting. The story itself was OK but not great. The character interactions were fairly entertaining. The mystery was reasonable but not outstanding. The Sherlock Holmes interaction was fun but I would soon get tired of it if continued in future writings.

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The Bughouse Affair (A Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery)

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