Ms. Tree

Ms. Tree #4

by Max Allan Collins, Terry Beatty (Illustrator)

After her husband's brutal murder, fierce and vengeful Ms. Tree inherits his detective agency and embarks on a one-woman crusade to nail mob boss Dominic Muerta, the man responsible for her husband's demise. Collects Ms. Tree #16-23.

176 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1988

About the author

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.

He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.

Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black

Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general, Ms. Tree stories that deal w/ her vendetta against the Muerta mafia are best, the more standalone series straining for social relevance do not rivet & age awkwardly. This vol's 1st story 'Runaway' is average despite the misfortune of centering on Tree's boring stepson (although it gives Tree a couple of wonderful hardboiled moments), the middle & longest story 'Muerta Means Death' is a great climax in Tree's continuing mafia war, & the final "Right to Die" is dreadful anti-abortion trash ineptly masquerading as even-handed

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun but v dated

[Ralph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pocket book size format ill suited for this work. Hard to read and enjoy when I was squinting so much. Didn't do it justice. May explain why only one edition came out this size.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: after her husband's murder, Ms. Tree inherits his detective agency and crusades to nail mob boss Dominic Muerta.