Fracture

Frankie MacFarlane, Geologist #5

by Susan Cummins Miller

Geologist Frankie MacFarlane and P.I. Philo Dain, just back from Afghanistan, are packing for an R&R trip to a cooler clime when Philo’s Aunt Heather is murdered in her empty Tucson mansion. Her husband, wealthy developer Derek Dain, is the prime suspect. The day before, Heather had left town with the Dain coin collection, worth millions. Now it's missing. Though Philo and his uncle haven’t spoken in years, Philo and Frankie agree to backtrack Heather on a quest that takes them from the sun-baked Tucson Basin to the foggy San Francisco Peninsula. Among California’s fault-scarred hills they uncover painful secrets from Philo’s past—and clues to a mysterious chess set worthy of kings, long protected by one family and long coveted by another. A treasure worth killing for—but who will survive to claim it?

Genres: Mystery

280 pages, Hardcover

First published February 15, 2011

About the author

Susan Cummins Miller is an American author of mystery novels.

Miller was born and raised in Southern California and lives in Tucson, Arizona. Before writing full time, she worked for the U. S. Government (primarily with the U. S. Geological Survey), conducting fieldwork in California, Nevada, Idaho, and Utah. She subsequently taught introductory geology and oceanography at the college level and offered short courses in writing, geology, paleontology, and oceanography in Tucson area schools. Miller is currently a Research Affiliate of the University of Arizona’s Southwest Institute for Research on Women and a SIROW Scholar. Her poetry has appeared in Sandcutters: Journal of the Arizona Poetry Society; Oasis Journal (2003-2008); and the anthology What Wilderness Is This: Women Write About the Southwest (University of Texas-Austin Press, 2007). Miller's mysteries and nonfiction have been published by Texas Tech University Press.

Series:
* Frankie MacFarlane, Geologist

Reviews

[Dallass]

This was a tricksie little book.

I was very excited to begin this journey with Frankie and Philo, but after a few pages I was wondering what the hell I’d gotten myself into. So I put it down and ignored it for the next couple of days. However, a few hours ago, I got a bee in my bonnet and I needed to get back into the story.

Thankfully the story picked up not long after, and I enjoyed reading about Philo’s painful trip down memory lane much more than I expected. { ps, that’s not a spoiler } Frankie and Philo are still working out the kinks in their relationship now that Philo is back from active duty in Afghanistan. He suffers from nightmares (watered down for readers comfort), and is more taciturn than ever which leaves Frankie trying to puzzle out how to connect with him at times. Killeen, Sylvie and Tommy make a quick appearance- it wouldn’t be a Frankie Macfarlane book without them - as well as a surprise visit from charismatic gentleman from books past 🥰.

While not the best book in the series for me, I do love that we finally dig more into Philo’s family history.

Okay, bring on Chasm 😊


3.5 🌟

[Ed]

#5 in the Frankie MacFarlane series. Boyfriend Philo Dain has returned from his secret mission to Afghanistan and brought with him some nightmare inducing ghosts. We learn more of Philo's backstory as his uncle Derek calls him. Derek reveals that Philo is an heir to a family trust that contains a coin collection worth over $10 million and Derek's 4th wife Heather has left him and taken the collection and $500,000 with her as leverage for Derek to void his pre-nuptial agreement. A panicked call from Derek the next day says he has found Heather's tortured body in the family mansion but the assets are still missing.

Frankie MacFarlane series - Geologist Frankie MacFarlane and P. I. Philo Dain, just back from Afghanistan, are packing for an R&R trip to a cooler clime when Philo's Aunt Heather is murdered in her empty Tucson mansion. Her husband, wealthy developer Derek Dain, is the prime suspect. The day before, Heather had left town with the Dain coin collection, worth millions. Now it's missing. Though Philo and his uncle haven't spoken in years, Philo and Frankie agree to backtrack Heather on a quest that takes them from the sun-baked Tucson Basin to the foggy San Francisco Peninsula.

[Edna]

I like anything that this Author writes (Susan Cummins Miller) This starts out in Tucson, Arizona when Philo's Aunt Heather is murdered in an empty mansion has to be on the Eastside of Tucson from the description and a Coin Collection went missing.
Of course the husband is suspect as always, but is he??? All kinds of things show up in Philo's history and the story goes to San Francisco back to Tucson.
As you read it have fun finding that Coin Collection.

[Diva]

Wonderful read!

I am hooked by this author. Terrific story lines, coupled with valuable learning with each book. I sure hope she keeps writing.