Conspiracy Theory

Gregor Demarkian #19

by Jane Haddam

In the tradition of P. D. James, Jane Haddam's novels combine compelling story lines with a keen-eyed, complex sense of the character's psychology and sharp, evocative sense of place. Over the years her novels featuring retired F. B. I. agent Gregor Demarkian have won her the respect of the critics and an ever-increasing number of devoted readers. Now with Conspiracy Theory , all of Haddam's ample of gifts are on display in a chilling novel of class, conspiracy, and murder.

Cavanaugh Street is a mostly quiet Armenian neighborhood in downtown Philadelphia where nearly everyone knows everyone else and certainly knows their business. But that quiet is destroyed when the Armenian Orthodox church is destroyed by bombing and its cleric, Father Tibor Kasparian, is hospitalized as a result. What would normally be a front page event, however, is overshadowed by another event across town - when Philadelphia Main Line society is shocked by the murder of one of their own. Anthony van Wyck Ross - the head of one of the major investment banks and a cornerstone of Main Line society - is murdered at the Around the World Harvest Ball being hosted at his mansion.

Gregor Demarkian, former head of FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit, and longtime resident of Cavanaugh Street, is soon enmeshed in both cases. With the Ross murder, there is the never-seen conspiracy theorist Michael Harridan who in his literature has claimed that Ross was a member of the dangerous secret ruling elite, The Illuminati. With the church bombing, there were the anonymous threatening letters received by Father Tibor just prior to the bombing. Together - if indeed they are in some inexplicable way related - they are the most challenging cases Demarkian has ever faced.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Aka Orania Papazoglou

Jane Haddam (b. 1951) is an American author of mysteries. Born Orania Papazoglou, she worked as a college professor and magazine editor before publishing her Edgar Award–nominated first novel, Sweet, Savage Death, in 1984. This mystery introduced Patience McKenna, a sleuthing scribe who would go on to appear in four more books, including Wicked, Loving Murder (1985) and Rich, Radiant Slaughter (1988).

Not a Creature Was Stirring (1990) introduced Haddam’s best-known character, former FBI agent Gregor Demarkian. The series spans more than twenty novels, many of them holiday-themed, including Murder Superior (1993), Fountain of Death (1995), and Wanting Sheila Dead (2005). Haddam’s most recent novels are Blood in the Water (2012) and Hearts of Sand (2013). Wife of William L DeAndrea.

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the 3rd Gregor Demarkian Mystery that I've read, I think. Not my favorite. The conspiracies believed and espoused in the book were just so ... out there. And I'm afraid they are actual theories that some people really believe and tout. So it depresses me and somewhat alarms me.

And I'm adding a spoiler. The bad guy gets away. In my view, that should not happen in mysteries that I read. It's like I want the good guy to get the girl and for them live together happily ever after in all the romance novels I read. Perhaps since there are lots of Gregor Demarkian novels, he'll get caught later. I certainly hope so.

I find the religion, politics, psychology, ... in each of the books in the series, at least so far since I've only read 5 of the many, very interesting. I find some credible insight every so often.

I've been reading the series one right after the other, the way you watch a TV series on Netflix - 4 seasons in a weekend, although I haven't been able to read them in order, unfortunately. Not sure I can continue to do back to back reading, the books have lots of detail and background on the religion, politics,, psychology, society, ... so it's not breezy reading. I may have to go to something lighter after I read the one I'm reading now, but something keeps pulling me into another one. Hopefully, I'll eventually read the 1st one in the series and see how it all started and get that initial introduction into all the recurring characters. It's on order, since I couldn't find it as a Kindle book at a price I was willing to pay, so it's coming snail mail (book rate).

[Kyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story - expecially with all the government trouble currently going on. I could see why people would think there's some really odd conspiracy going on, although the idea of lizard people controlling us through TVs is a bit much.
It just went on too long. I was read to scream "Give us the solution already, Gregor!!!!!"

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A much better read than the last two! How does the bombing of Tibor’s church and the murder of a head of an investment bank related? It’s amazing how there are so many conspiracies out there about the government becoming a one world government. But lizard people is a little hard fetched. I kind of had an idea of the murderous and was right. But, there were sections that were just toooooo long.

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who killed Tony and Charlotte Ross? And why would anyone fire bomb Father Tibor Kasparian's Armenian Orthodox church on Cavanaugh Street? One of the few Gregor Demarkian books that I have been disappointed in...Gregor knows who commits the murders, but does not get his man!

[Barrette Kozel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing style difficult to follow....lost interest in story line.

[Karen Gallimore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm reading all her books, but not sequentially. This one had too much info about conspiracy theories. I lost interest.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tedious read…liked the story

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book on second reading. What I have learned about Jane Haddam, is that I have to read her mysteries more slowly than I do some others. The detail that she gives by having so much interiority in her characters creates the need to read more slowly. For example, when I sped-read the last chapters, I missed the revelation of the murderer! Not a good option for a mystery reader!

Jane also takes current culture into consideration in her novels, as this one, nad "True Believers" exemplify. Both books' plots are based on the current culture's tendencies to see everything as a conspiracy of some sort --- and to find answers in simplisitc religeous answers.

However, reading these two books one after the other, brought out one of Haddam's writing flaws. She appears to have a "type" of character --- the loner, loser. The marginalized outsider, who is angry and deeply hates the characters in the story that are part of the elite. These characters appear to me to be almost interchangeable from one book to the next. Hmmmmm----

Like Martha Grimes, Jane Haddam has created a vivid world in the Armenian enclave in Philadelphia in which her readers can immerse themselves. The Little Old Ladies, the Armenain Priest, the diner where they all meet --- the wonderfully euphonious names of these characters--- all make this part of her novels fun.

[Myos · Rating 5 out of 5]

2002. The US is still reeling from September 11 and domestic terrorists may have bombed an Armenian Church, while wild theories that the governement is out to take guns from freedom fighters heat the imagination of a small group of vigilantes and an IMF director is shot... Gregor Demarkian investigates.
Very well written as usual by Jane Haddam and interesting to read in 2013 (knowing it was written in 2001), when such conspiracy theories continue to proliferate.

[Janice · Rating 2 out of 5]

First one I have read in the series. It was not a favorite but I must admit I started reading this before I got swine flu and tried to read it several times during my sickness but didn't get far. It does do some interesting things with conspiracies but I was not particularly drawn to the main character of the series Gregor Demarkian.

[Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great entry in Haddam's Gregor Demarkian series. This time out, the community is still reeling after the attacks on 9/11 when a prominent businessman is murdered in full view of several guests at his well-guarded home. At virtually the same moment, an explosion rocks a nearby Armenian-American community...

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story explores the seedy underbelly of life in those who believe in conspiracy theories. However, getting past that ick factor, it was a good story and I really appreciated a bit more of Father Tibor's backstory. I enjoy the mysteries more after she gave up on the trope of the holiday theme - they are meatier and more interesting storylines.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed by this book. It is only the second I have read in the series, and I was hoping for more action and less talking. I didn't find the plot to be interesting and the immersion into conspiracy theory was only annoying.

[Melissa Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The conspiracy theories run rampant, but so does the "plot". Definitely a post-9/11 book and a bit contrived. Some of it belongs in a non-fiction treatise on government, terrorism, and what makes people paranoid.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

clever plot

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

My fourth Gregor Demarkian book and I notice many repeated phrases that are becoming very tired sounding.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haddam's Demarkian books are always good, and her regular characters are likable.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

slow read, too realistic, too many crazy folk for any but small doses

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-read.

[Allison Henle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really clever mystery.

[Elizabeth Walkup · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best in the series, but good enough to finish.

[Sara Herring]

didn't read