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Sharon McCone #32
The Color of Fear
In New York Times bestselling author Marcia Muller's captivating mystery, private detective Sharon McCone's investigation hits closer to home than ever before?Ķ
The Color of Fear
When a knock on the door in the middle of the night wakes Sharon, she's wholly unprepared for the horrifying her father has been the victim of a vicious, racially-motivated attack.
A nationally recognized Shoshone artist, Elwood had been visiting Sharon for the holidays, browsing for gifts in San Francisco's exclusive Marina district when he was set upon by a mob of angry young men. Now he lies in a coma, hovering between life and death.
With little progress on the investigation from the overworked, short-handed police, Sharon resolves to track down Elwood's attackers herself. But when Sharon begins receiving hate-filled, racist threats from a shadowy group, it becomes clear that her pursuit of justice may be putting her own life in jeopardy...
The Color of Fear
When a knock on the door in the middle of the night wakes Sharon, she's wholly unprepared for the horrifying her father has been the victim of a vicious, racially-motivated attack.
A nationally recognized Shoshone artist, Elwood had been visiting Sharon for the holidays, browsing for gifts in San Francisco's exclusive Marina district when he was set upon by a mob of angry young men. Now he lies in a coma, hovering between life and death.
With little progress on the investigation from the overworked, short-handed police, Sharon resolves to track down Elwood's attackers herself. But when Sharon begins receiving hate-filled, racist threats from a shadowy group, it becomes clear that her pursuit of justice may be putting her own life in jeopardy...
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 2, 2017
249 people are currently reading
1501 people want to read
About the author
Marcia Muller
165 books723 followersMarcia Muller is an American author of mystery and thriller novels.
Muller has written many novels featuring her Sharon McCone female private detective character. Vanishing Point won the Shamus Award for Best P.I. Novel. Muller had been nominated for the Shamus Award four times previously.
In 2005, Muller was awarded the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master award.
She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Birmingham, Michigan, and graduated in English from the University of Michigan and worked as a journalist at Sunset magazine. She is married to detective fiction author Bill Pronzini with whom she has collaborated on several novels.
Muller has written many novels featuring her Sharon McCone female private detective character. Vanishing Point won the Shamus Award for Best P.I. Novel. Muller had been nominated for the Shamus Award four times previously.
In 2005, Muller was awarded the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master award.
She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Birmingham, Michigan, and graduated in English from the University of Michigan and worked as a journalist at Sunset magazine. She is married to detective fiction author Bill Pronzini with whom she has collaborated on several novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
August 8, 2017
I started to read this book thought it was quite good and decided to check up how many books there are in this series since I'm new to it. The Color of Fear is book 32. Yikes, let's face it there is a lot of history between the characters and here I come stumbling into it and trying to make sense of it all. However, it was not that hard, despite all new names, relationships, and past events. I'm actually a bit impressed that I so easily could get into the story, keep the characters apart and enjoy the book. It's not always that easy when you start with a book with that many books previously published.
The Color of Fear was for me a fast read, it's not a thick book, and the story is pretty straightforward, not a book with many twists or shocking revelations. However, I enjoyed reading it because of its simplicity and interesting families ties with Sharon McCone having two families since she was adopted as a baby. It's a book that made me curious to read more, read the books from the beginning to discover the story from its start.
For me was The Color of Fear a perfect between the books kind of reading. I read it fast, and I quite enjoyed for a moment reading something lighter and I wouldn't mind reading more books in the series.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
The Color of Fear was for me a fast read, it's not a thick book, and the story is pretty straightforward, not a book with many twists or shocking revelations. However, I enjoyed reading it because of its simplicity and interesting families ties with Sharon McCone having two families since she was adopted as a baby. It's a book that made me curious to read more, read the books from the beginning to discover the story from its start.
For me was The Color of Fear a perfect between the books kind of reading. I read it fast, and I quite enjoyed for a moment reading something lighter and I wouldn't mind reading more books in the series.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
August 25, 2017
As I indicated in my update, I may well have reached the end of my reading road with the Sharon McCone mysteries written by Marcia Muller. They continue to be well written but no longer seem to have the nuances of character and setting, and even plot. that I look for in mysteries, whether series or one-ofs. I read this book entirely today as I actually wanted/needed something escapist and "easy" and it fit the bill almost too well. It's subject is one that is only too relevant over the past few weeks, racist attacks, this time in San Francisco and with Sharon's birth father its victim. Very meaningful subject but not dealt with beyond the crime and criminals themselves. No delving into the state of the country at present beyond a couple of mentions of its nervousness as it entered the holidays (presumably after the election). This book was obviously written before this year's events and set to occur over the holidays of 2016, but there are hints at the rising tide of racism of all kinds.
I think I simply am looking for a different sort of mystery/suspense book these days. I have enjoyed this series for quite a while but likely will move on.
I think I simply am looking for a different sort of mystery/suspense book these days. I have enjoyed this series for quite a while but likely will move on.
August 22, 2017
My initial feeling after finishing The Color of Fear late Friday 8/11/2017 was that the white supremacist elements were really heavy-handed (even as a person who never believed that the election and re-election of Pres. Obama were signs of a post-racial time in the U.S.). Early the next morning my opinion had expanded to consider that maybe the heavy-handedness was intended to frame M.M.'s much more subtle points about racist extremism as a red herring to distract from simple greed, resentment, and envy as the bad actors' motivations.
Then the horrific events in Charlottesville, Virginia happened.
The Color of Fear contains all of the appealing elements that made me a fan after stumbling across Edwin of the Iron Shoes in the library years ago. A strong, complicated lead female protagonist whose vulnerabilities highlight her humanity with a circle of family, friends, and associates who represent an authentic array of all kinds of people from every element of society create a rich tapestry of interpersonal dynamics and intrigue. M.M.'s Sharon McCone universe started flying the #WeNeedDiverseBooks banner decades before the number symbol became a hashtag.
Then the horrific events in Charlottesville, Virginia happened.
The Color of Fear contains all of the appealing elements that made me a fan after stumbling across Edwin of the Iron Shoes in the library years ago. A strong, complicated lead female protagonist whose vulnerabilities highlight her humanity with a circle of family, friends, and associates who represent an authentic array of all kinds of people from every element of society create a rich tapestry of interpersonal dynamics and intrigue. M.M.'s Sharon McCone universe started flying the #WeNeedDiverseBooks banner decades before the number symbol became a hashtag.
August 22, 2017
This book was just so-so for me. Too much flashing-back, reiterating old plots, too thin, I found it hard to care about the outcome. It felt more like a television script for a police procedural that was wrapped up with a bow in 1 hour or less than a novel. I love Marcia Muller, but not this book.
October 28, 2023
I did not like this enough to read more of the Sharon McCone books, and this is the 32nd so it must be a successful series, eh? I liked parts of the book or I would not have finished reading it. The theme of prejudice was reasonable but the theme, action, plotting did not appeal to me.
Library Loan
Library Loan
September 2, 2017
Disappointing- the Sharon McCone mysteries are starting to read like outline sketches, with very little character development or plot fleshing out to keep my interest. I've read the series since the beginning, but am now at the 'don't care if I read another' stage...
The book looked like it would have a good read in it, but the font was large, meaning lots of pages but not much substance. And in past books, if one of the baddies had confessed his motivation for all the harm he was doing was due to Sharon providing evidence that helped to send a friend to jail, then we would have leaned who that friend was etc. Now? Just an unexplained loose end that conveniently wraps things up - well, sort of!
The book looked like it would have a good read in it, but the font was large, meaning lots of pages but not much substance. And in past books, if one of the baddies had confessed his motivation for all the harm he was doing was due to Sharon providing evidence that helped to send a friend to jail, then we would have leaned who that friend was etc. Now? Just an unexplained loose end that conveniently wraps things up - well, sort of!
September 7, 2017
Felt like finale
I have read all the Sharon McCone novels over the years, and knowing that Marcia Muller is almost 73, maybe feeling that "The Color of Fear" is her last or near-last novel is to be expected. There was even a synopsis of McCone's cases under the guise of providing an investigator with McCone's background. Sadly, the writing itself was sketchy. Even the action scenes felt summarized. Missing was the passion, the crackling intellect, of both author and protagonist. Even the ripped-from-the-headlines premise (hate crimes) felt awkward and artificial. Happily, I can always return to "Edwin of the Iron Shoes" and reread each to get my Sharon McCone fix.
I have read all the Sharon McCone novels over the years, and knowing that Marcia Muller is almost 73, maybe feeling that "The Color of Fear" is her last or near-last novel is to be expected. There was even a synopsis of McCone's cases under the guise of providing an investigator with McCone's background. Sadly, the writing itself was sketchy. Even the action scenes felt summarized. Missing was the passion, the crackling intellect, of both author and protagonist. Even the ripped-from-the-headlines premise (hate crimes) felt awkward and artificial. Happily, I can always return to "Edwin of the Iron Shoes" and reread each to get my Sharon McCone fix.
September 17, 2017
I've followed Sharon McCone's life and career since the beginning of the series. The story itself was pretty straightforward with a few predictable twists and the ending was no surprise but what I always enjoy about the series is catching up with McCone's life along with her friends, relatives, and various associates, and this did not disappoint in that regard. This was a fun and quick read that I would recommend to anyone who follows the series.
If you've never read Muller's McCone series before, start with EYE OF THE STORM as I think that's when she hit her stride with the mystery element of her stories. Also read Muller if you like Grafton and J. A. Jance (especially the Beaumont series).
Note: I'm also a fan of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone series, and what is interesting about comparing the two is that Grafton has kept Kinsey in the 1980s with very little in the way of technology to help her solve the cases, and Muller has kept McCone up with the times so it's fun to discover how she uses current techniques to help solve the crimes.
If you've never read Muller's McCone series before, start with EYE OF THE STORM as I think that's when she hit her stride with the mystery element of her stories. Also read Muller if you like Grafton and J. A. Jance (especially the Beaumont series).
Note: I'm also a fan of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone series, and what is interesting about comparing the two is that Grafton has kept Kinsey in the 1980s with very little in the way of technology to help her solve the cases, and Muller has kept McCone up with the times so it's fun to discover how she uses current techniques to help solve the crimes.
May 1, 2019
I enjoyed this series more when Sharon McCone was a young struggling private detective and the cases were more challenging. It all now seems to centre around her large circle of family and friends who are all very talented and money does not appear to be an issue.
January 28, 2020
Sorry Marcia, after 43 pages I’m calling it quits. So far Sharon’s father has been beaten up and the rest has been your describing characters and previous events in other books. Can’t see this going anywhere. I’m done with this series and I think you should be, too. DNF
January 1, 2018
A visit with Sharon McCone, family and friends is always enjoyable. In this book, Sharon's Father is attacked and seriously beaten. Looking for a reason for the assault, Sharon recalls all her previous cases and if guilty could be responsible. Before long other friend and family are victims of an attack. It becomes apparent the attacks are racially motivated. Will Sharon be able to locate those responsible for someone she cares about is dead? I highly recommend this book and series.My thanks to the Meridian Library for my copy.
September 5, 2017
With over thirty books in the series, Sharon McCone's investigation is as suspenseful and topical as ever. The people who attacked her father must be stopped; the stakes are high, for all of us.
January 9, 2018
I never want to begin a review by suggesting that an author 'hang it up'--way too often, a slow or less intriguing plot in a long-time series book is followed by a completely unexpected twist in the next book. There's still more to know about Sharon McCone, and Muller certainly deserves a chance to end her series in the conclusive way she's undoubtedly been carrying around in her head for years.
However. This book is disappointing in many ways. Long sections of it are just a review of old cases and storylines. If you weren't a regular reader, the cast of characters would be overwhelmingly confusing (and a dozen of them made completely extraneous-to-plot appearances). There was very little detective work, sussing out who the bad guys were (and they're very bad guys, indeed). All the information just seemed to fall in McCone's lap--and then she does that thing that all detectives seem to do: recklessly put herself in unnecessary danger under the worst possible conditions.
There was plenty to work with here--the premise of hate crimes against innocent people is timely and plausible, and an opportunity to dig deeper into how and why such crime happens. And the plot is supported by backstory and regular, diverse characters. It could have been a great book, but it was seriously flawed. Three minus.
However. This book is disappointing in many ways. Long sections of it are just a review of old cases and storylines. If you weren't a regular reader, the cast of characters would be overwhelmingly confusing (and a dozen of them made completely extraneous-to-plot appearances). There was very little detective work, sussing out who the bad guys were (and they're very bad guys, indeed). All the information just seemed to fall in McCone's lap--and then she does that thing that all detectives seem to do: recklessly put herself in unnecessary danger under the worst possible conditions.
There was plenty to work with here--the premise of hate crimes against innocent people is timely and plausible, and an opportunity to dig deeper into how and why such crime happens. And the plot is supported by backstory and regular, diverse characters. It could have been a great book, but it was seriously flawed. Three minus.
August 20, 2019
This is the 32nd book in the Sharon McCone series and I have read them all. Part of their allure is that they are set in San Francisco, Mono Lake, Mendocino, and other familiar areas in California.
Each book has well-established characters and new sinister or friendly ones too. The plots are not too complicated but I enjoy the unfolding stories.
My only criticism is that Marcia Muller's style is so engaging & flows so easily that the books seem too short.
Each book has well-established characters and new sinister or friendly ones too. The plots are not too complicated but I enjoy the unfolding stories.
My only criticism is that Marcia Muller's style is so engaging & flows so easily that the books seem too short.
August 5, 2022
A big ol' Nothing Burger.
Racists attack Sharon's bio Dad Elwood Farmer while he's visiting her over the holiday season.
Their motive? Racism.
Also, you find a "blogger" hiding in your office broom closet, you know he's a computer hacker, and you don't immediately check for security breaches in your system? Like, really?!
No mystery to speak of. Honestly, I'd probably give this one star but I'm too invested in the characters at this point to consider it.
Racists attack Sharon's bio Dad Elwood Farmer while he's visiting her over the holiday season.
Their motive? Racism.
Also, you find a "blogger" hiding in your office broom closet, you know he's a computer hacker, and you don't immediately check for security breaches in your system? Like, really?!
No mystery to speak of. Honestly, I'd probably give this one star but I'm too invested in the characters at this point to consider it.
August 30, 2017
Sharon and her friends and family continue to involve us in these fascinatingly complex stories. This one has a lot of twists and turns that kept us all wondering.
December 27, 2019
Quite a quick read .like a week in the life of the main character
September 1, 2017
3.5 stars. Christmas is almost here when investigator Sharon McCone and her husband Hy Ripinsky receive a visit in the middle of the night from police officers. Her father has been viciously attacked and is unconscious in the hospital. Sharon must figure out if this attack was due to revenge for one of her previous cases or if it's a hate crime since her father is a Shoshone Indian.
If you've been reading this series for many years as I have, you'll probably enjoy the story. Almost all of Sharon's family is present due to the hospitalization and the Christmas time of year. Several of Sharon's earlier cases are recounted as she investigates who might have committed this crime. The storyline of white supremacists and other hate groups is very relevant in today's society.
If you've been reading this series for many years as I have, you'll probably enjoy the story. Almost all of Sharon's family is present due to the hospitalization and the Christmas time of year. Several of Sharon's earlier cases are recounted as she investigates who might have committed this crime. The storyline of white supremacists and other hate groups is very relevant in today's society.
November 2, 2017
3.5 stars
I can always count on Marcia Muller to write good, solid mysteries and she delivered the goods one more time. In this one Sharon McCone and crew are investigating a crime that hits very close to home--the unprovoked physical attack on her father. Was the beating that put Elwood in the hospital racially motivated or was it an indirect attack on Sharon herself?
As much as I enjoy the actual whodunnit aspects of these books, I really read them to catch up with the long-running characters. As this investigation is a personal one, the reader gets updates on just about everyone in the extended McCone family, as well as Sharon's Shoshone relatives and a number of Sharon and Hy's friends.
All very satisfactory.
I can always count on Marcia Muller to write good, solid mysteries and she delivered the goods one more time. In this one Sharon McCone and crew are investigating a crime that hits very close to home--the unprovoked physical attack on her father. Was the beating that put Elwood in the hospital racially motivated or was it an indirect attack on Sharon herself?
As much as I enjoy the actual whodunnit aspects of these books, I really read them to catch up with the long-running characters. As this investigation is a personal one, the reader gets updates on just about everyone in the extended McCone family, as well as Sharon's Shoshone relatives and a number of Sharon and Hy's friends.
All very satisfactory.
August 21, 2022
As I started to read this novel, I noticed that while it was a mystery novel, it wasn’t the kind of mystery that I personally enjoyed. Either ways, it was a nice quick read that allowed me to enjoy what all was going on. Sharon’s dad, Elwood, gets jumped by a few racist supremacists, ended up in a coma, and the rest is Sharon trying to figure out who caused Elwood’s coma. The book makes it pretty obvious who was mainly responsible for it, and while I’m fine with that, a part of me wishes it included some sort of plot twist. In my opinion, the book is 4/5 stars overall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2017
Marcia Muller takes on white supremacy in her latest installment in her San Francisco-based Sharon McCone series. Crime once against strikes close to home when Sharon's birth father is brutally attacked a few days before Christmas in what appears to be a random mugging. However, two other Native Americans have been recently attacked, followed by a series of menacing calls, break ins, vandalism, and against Sharon, other family members, and her employees. Are the attacks purely racially motivated, or are they part of something more sinister?
Marcia Muller is an excellent writer, and her Sharon McCone series builds up previous books and allows all of the characters (including San Francisco) an opportunity to grow and age over time. The Color of Fear is well-paced, with a good balance between the investigation and Sharon's personal life.
If you haven't read Marcia Muller before, now is a good time to start. If you have read any of the Sharon McCone books, it's time to catch up with an old friend.
Marcia Muller is an excellent writer, and her Sharon McCone series builds up previous books and allows all of the characters (including San Francisco) an opportunity to grow and age over time. The Color of Fear is well-paced, with a good balance between the investigation and Sharon's personal life.
If you haven't read Marcia Muller before, now is a good time to start. If you have read any of the Sharon McCone books, it's time to catch up with an old friend.
February 26, 2021
Maybe I am just getting tired of McCone but I found this to be very derivitive. Her father gets beat up but is it a random racial crime? No, of course not. It has to be retaliation abainst her. And I am just tired of everyone she knows having wealth from whatever they do (except the occasional person she can then help with her largesse. And (surprise! surprise!) the obligatory storm as we head into the climax where she sneaks into a dangerous situation again without backup or telling anyone where she is going. Disappointing all the way round.
January 13, 2018
I've been reading this series since the very first novel, EDWIN OF THE IRON SHOES, was published.
I've even met Marcia and her husband Bill Pronzini several times.
I've even met Marcia and her husband Bill Pronzini several times.
October 3, 2019
Another good McCone novel with great Bay Area focus. It goes to the heart of her family and her business and so feels like another very personal story. Have they gotten a little paint by numbers? Perhaps. But this is still an enjoyable read.
April 4, 2025
Sharon McCone must deal with hate crimes against her family and friends in this engaging mystery.
August 19, 2017
Not her best. I liked the others in the series much more.
December 12, 2018
Excellent book!
August 18, 2017
The timing of my reading of this is so right on with the Charlotte incidents etc. Sharon who is Native American by birth is thrown into the world of hate crimes and racism as her natural father is beaten and left for dead right before Christmas. Living in Oklahoma which although was and is "Indian Territory" I do not see that type of hate. Good read - made me think about what I choose not to see.
August 13, 2017
I have read this series from the beginning and still look forward to an annual update on Shar's job, life, company, family, and car. She's tough and she's smart. The white supremacy theme is current and her company is on top of technology. This time Shar conquers Christmas gift buying for her large, extended family, as well as her regular sleuthing. Glad to know she puts it off, too. It's August and hot in Florida where I live, but I've already seen the "134 days 'til Christmas" signs. Muller knows her readers!
August 13, 2017
The newest Sharon McCone read. Written with the expected excellence. Many familiar characters continue their development through life. A closer look at McCone's relatively newly discovered father. Also a sad commentary on one of the ills found in today's society. Altogether a quick and very enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews