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Carlotta Carlyle #1
A Trouble of Fools
The first book in the Carlotta Carlyle series!
Linda Barnes's A Trouble of Fools is the book that introduced readers to ex-Boston cop and PI Carlotta Carlyle, who knows trouble when she sees it like the old Irish lady offering a grand in cash to find her brother...
TROUBLE…
Since being bounced from the Boston police for insubordination after six years of service, Carlotta Carlyle has set up shop as a private investigator ready to deal with anything from lost pets to substantially grander larcenies. Though Carlotta, a six-foot-tall, redheaded ex cop, part-time cabbie, and neophyte private eye, works out of her home, it's rare that clients stop by unannounced. Especially clients like the genteel, reserved, elderly spinster Miss Margaret Devens.
ALWAYS COMES…
With cash flow problems and a caseload so light that she's taken to reading her cat's mail, Carlotta accepts the case of Miss Devens's missing brother Eugene. Oddly enough, Carlotta knew Eugene when they worked together back at Green and White Cab. As far as Carlotta sees it, this case should be a pinch--until two thugs looking for money send her client to the hospital.
WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT…
The old lady's missing brother seems to have been involved in something much more dangerous than simply driving a cab. Carlotta is determined to do whatever it takes?work the cops, pose as a hooker, and even drive a cab again--to find Eugene before it's too late.
"She is one of the most sparkling, most irresistible heroines ever to grace the pages of a whodunit."
?Chicago Sun-Times
"All elements are skillfully woven together in a book that has just about everything."
--Denver Post
Linda Barnes's A Trouble of Fools is the book that introduced readers to ex-Boston cop and PI Carlotta Carlyle, who knows trouble when she sees it like the old Irish lady offering a grand in cash to find her brother...
TROUBLE…
Since being bounced from the Boston police for insubordination after six years of service, Carlotta Carlyle has set up shop as a private investigator ready to deal with anything from lost pets to substantially grander larcenies. Though Carlotta, a six-foot-tall, redheaded ex cop, part-time cabbie, and neophyte private eye, works out of her home, it's rare that clients stop by unannounced. Especially clients like the genteel, reserved, elderly spinster Miss Margaret Devens.
ALWAYS COMES…
With cash flow problems and a caseload so light that she's taken to reading her cat's mail, Carlotta accepts the case of Miss Devens's missing brother Eugene. Oddly enough, Carlotta knew Eugene when they worked together back at Green and White Cab. As far as Carlotta sees it, this case should be a pinch--until two thugs looking for money send her client to the hospital.
WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT…
The old lady's missing brother seems to have been involved in something much more dangerous than simply driving a cab. Carlotta is determined to do whatever it takes?work the cops, pose as a hooker, and even drive a cab again--to find Eugene before it's too late.
"She is one of the most sparkling, most irresistible heroines ever to grace the pages of a whodunit."
?Chicago Sun-Times
"All elements are skillfully woven together in a book that has just about everything."
--Denver Post
219 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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3142 people want to read
About the author
Linda Barnes
76 books222 followersLinda Barnes is an American mystery writer, born and raised in Detroit, and graduated from Boston University"s School of Theater. She is best known for her series featuring Carlotta Carlyle, a 6'1" redheaded detective from Boston. Carlotta Carlyle is often compared to the hard-boiled female detectives created by Sue Grafton and Sara Paretsky. Her new novel, "The Perfect Ghost," which will be published in April, 2013, is her first stand-alone mystery.
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September 4, 2023
A Trouble of Fools
by Linda Barnes is the first book in the Carlotta Carlyle private investigator series. Carlotta is an ex-Boston police officer, ex-part-time cab driver, and a newly minted private detective. Miss Margaret Devens hires her to find her missing brother Eugene. Carlotta slightly knew Eugene slightly from when they were both working at Green and White Cab. She thinks she will solve the case quickly until thugs invade Margaret’s home and she ends up in the hospital. What where they looking for? Was Eugene involved in something more dangerous than driving a cab?
Carlotta is tough, stubborn, divorced, untidy, plays volleyball, and is a Big Sister to Paolina. The other characters have varying degrees of depth. They’re a mixed bag of characters including TC the cat and Red Emma the parakeet as well as an old love interest and a former colleague wanting a relationship, an artist tenant and her boyfriend, her former boss at the cab company, and many others.
There’s a decent mystery in this story, but the start is slow-paced, meandering, and uneven. However, it picks up in the last third of the novel. There is a lot of description detail that doesn’t seem to advance the story. However, as the investigation continued, the puzzle pieces came together and the ending is what I expected.
Overall, this sets the stage for an interesting series with some eccentric characters and new investigations to pursue.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was January 1, 1987.
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My 2.98 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
Carlotta is tough, stubborn, divorced, untidy, plays volleyball, and is a Big Sister to Paolina. The other characters have varying degrees of depth. They’re a mixed bag of characters including TC the cat and Red Emma the parakeet as well as an old love interest and a former colleague wanting a relationship, an artist tenant and her boyfriend, her former boss at the cab company, and many others.
There’s a decent mystery in this story, but the start is slow-paced, meandering, and uneven. However, it picks up in the last third of the novel. There is a lot of description detail that doesn’t seem to advance the story. However, as the investigation continued, the puzzle pieces came together and the ending is what I expected.
Overall, this sets the stage for an interesting series with some eccentric characters and new investigations to pursue.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was January 1, 1987.
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My 2.98 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
Want to read
October 27, 2024A missing persons case gets complicated when the client is attacked in her own home. It feels like a genuine could-be kind of gumshoe case, somewhat complicated by time-period politics related to the IRA. No, I don't mean Individual Retirement Account. That's Irish Republican Army, and it was a Very Big Thing for almost 100 years, fighting to free Ireland from England's rule. But in real life, it seems like even the IRA had trouble keeping track of itself (see the wiki page, which lists 7 or 8 changes/manifestations running under 'IRA'), so it is no wonder that Americans find it equally confusing, and a fictional book even more so.
It as a nice balance of introducing Carlotta along with actual mystery, so it is easy to see why the series continued. Decent writing, nice characterization, and Cambridge/Boston (I know they are different, don't @me) setting make it a returnable book and above average on my female gumshoe list.
It as a nice balance of introducing Carlotta along with actual mystery, so it is easy to see why the series continued. Decent writing, nice characterization, and Cambridge/Boston (I know they are different, don't @me) setting make it a returnable book and above average on my female gumshoe list.
April 8, 2012
Having read and enjoyed several of the later Carlotta Carlye books, I thought I'd start at the beginning of the series. I just adore Carlotta as a character. She’s so solid, while being human and a bit flawed at the same time. She’s my all-time favorite female, P.I. She’s gutsy, resourceful, funny and most of all she’s honourable. Carlotta’s such a stand-up person and a loyal friend. I like it that she’s plays Blues guitar and listens to Bonnie Raitt and Billie Holiday. I thought it was quite funny that in this book I also discovered that, like me, she doesn’t like nail polish, she doesn’t like earrings, and so never wears those.
All things considered I think it’s important to do the series justice and read it in the right order. Characters develop, relationships develop, and authors develop. I think this first book clearly lays the ground-work at depicting Carlotta’s important relationships with the people that matter in life: her entourage that will be there with her till the very last book. There’s Mooney, the cop and ex-colleague, Gloria, the co-owner of a cab company G&W, where Carlotta works on and off; Paulina, her ‘adopted’ little sister; Roz, her eccentric artist tenant; and finally Sam, her on-and-off-again lover and heir apparent of the Gianelli mob-family.
The other important character in this series is definitely the city of Boston. Now I’ve visited Boston a few times, but as soon as I read a Carlotta book, I want to go back to better explore and feel this unique city. I want be on the streets while Carlotta drives her cab, or drives her old red Toyota doing her PI work. Most of time I am enthralled by the gritty language, the down-and-dirty description of the Boston streets, the no-nonsense tone.
As a first book goes, it's a solid one. No wonder that Linda Barnes won the Edgar Award back in 1987 for Best novel with this one. The plot kept me captivated and entertained. While investigating a missing persons case, Carlotta accidently stumbles upon a group of Irish-American cabbies, all over 50, who may be running money and guns for the now severely restricted IRA. Carlotta finds herself in very deep trouble indeed, the kind that can easily end in murder. Only because Carlotta is so extremely street-smart, resourceful and knows who she can rely on for assistance, is she able to resolve this more than messy situation, and unmasking the real culprit.
This is a perfect book to devour one lazy afternoon while shutting the rest of the world out.
All things considered I think it’s important to do the series justice and read it in the right order. Characters develop, relationships develop, and authors develop. I think this first book clearly lays the ground-work at depicting Carlotta’s important relationships with the people that matter in life: her entourage that will be there with her till the very last book. There’s Mooney, the cop and ex-colleague, Gloria, the co-owner of a cab company G&W, where Carlotta works on and off; Paulina, her ‘adopted’ little sister; Roz, her eccentric artist tenant; and finally Sam, her on-and-off-again lover and heir apparent of the Gianelli mob-family.
The other important character in this series is definitely the city of Boston. Now I’ve visited Boston a few times, but as soon as I read a Carlotta book, I want to go back to better explore and feel this unique city. I want be on the streets while Carlotta drives her cab, or drives her old red Toyota doing her PI work. Most of time I am enthralled by the gritty language, the down-and-dirty description of the Boston streets, the no-nonsense tone.
As a first book goes, it's a solid one. No wonder that Linda Barnes won the Edgar Award back in 1987 for Best novel with this one. The plot kept me captivated and entertained. While investigating a missing persons case, Carlotta accidently stumbles upon a group of Irish-American cabbies, all over 50, who may be running money and guns for the now severely restricted IRA. Carlotta finds herself in very deep trouble indeed, the kind that can easily end in murder. Only because Carlotta is so extremely street-smart, resourceful and knows who she can rely on for assistance, is she able to resolve this more than messy situation, and unmasking the real culprit.
This is a perfect book to devour one lazy afternoon while shutting the rest of the world out.
March 24, 2017
Pleasant, but so unmemorable that I'm having trouble even conjuring the interest to write a review. The sort of book that doesn't inspire enough glorious frustration to write a rant, nor the adoration to pen a slavering paean to its greatness.
Carlotta Carlyle, the story's protagonist, is a former cab driver and former cop, now private investigator. She's single and has the requisite cat, T.C. And T.C., being a thoroughly modern cat, gets mail.
When the story begins, Carlotta is eyeing a letter that claims T.C. is the winner of 20-thousand dollars. Because the story details have already been replaced with details from another novel, I can't remember if the letter is from a condo company, and collecting the money requires listening to a sales pitch, or whether there are no strings attached at all. Either way, to claim the 20K, Carlotta and her "husband," T.C., need to collect the money in person. A problem since T.C. isn't precisely a person.
Right off the bat, I'm wondering how smart woman could ever think this was legitimate. I mean, seriously? Anyway, Carlotta is on the hunt for a human stand-in for T.C.
Meanwhile, an elderly lady, Margaret Devens, appears on her doorstep, wanting to hire Carlotta to find her missing brother, Eugene. Unfortunately, Granny is less than forthcoming with the truth about her brother, and pretty much expects Carlotta to located him out of thin air.
I think I'm supposed to find Margaret endearing because she's old. Mostly, I found her prickly, like a cactus, but without the occasional burst of pretty flowers. Consequently, the fate of Margaret's brother didn't exactly keep me up nights worrying. Or reading this book. (A kind of stupid obstinacy kept me reading.)
Eugene works for a cab company, the same outfit that once employed Carlotta. And pretty soon, Carlotta's back driving a cab, following Eugene's compatriots around the streets of Boston, seeking clues to Eugene's disappearance. Carlotta also reacquaints herself with Mooney, a police detective, and tries to enlist him to play the part of T.C. The obligatory (tepid) love interest is provided by Carlotta's ex-boyfriend, Sam, who owns the cab company.
Stuff happens, and the above plot threads - cab company, local police department, T.C.'s prize money - are bound together reasonably well with an IRA money-making scheme (as in Irish Republican Army, not retirement - the novel was first published in the 80s).
The pace was just too meandering, and Carlotta, despite the occasional witty insight, felt like just about every other young, single sleuth in the genre. I got sort of annoyed with her at the end when she goes all schmopey over the death of the antagonist. (She shows up at the funeral, with flowers.) The guy is a drug dealer, precisely the kind of person who endangers the life of Paulina, her little sister/surrogate daughter. Maybe the point was to show that Carlotta was kind-hearted, but honestly, all it did was make her look like an ass.
Yeah, a boring review for an uninspiring book. This is the start of a series that spawned many more books, so evidently the character and setting works for other readers.
Carlotta Carlyle, the story's protagonist, is a former cab driver and former cop, now private investigator. She's single and has the requisite cat, T.C. And T.C., being a thoroughly modern cat, gets mail.
When the story begins, Carlotta is eyeing a letter that claims T.C. is the winner of 20-thousand dollars. Because the story details have already been replaced with details from another novel, I can't remember if the letter is from a condo company, and collecting the money requires listening to a sales pitch, or whether there are no strings attached at all. Either way, to claim the 20K, Carlotta and her "husband," T.C., need to collect the money in person. A problem since T.C. isn't precisely a person.
Right off the bat, I'm wondering how smart woman could ever think this was legitimate. I mean, seriously? Anyway, Carlotta is on the hunt for a human stand-in for T.C.
Meanwhile, an elderly lady, Margaret Devens, appears on her doorstep, wanting to hire Carlotta to find her missing brother, Eugene. Unfortunately, Granny is less than forthcoming with the truth about her brother, and pretty much expects Carlotta to located him out of thin air.
I think I'm supposed to find Margaret endearing because she's old. Mostly, I found her prickly, like a cactus, but without the occasional burst of pretty flowers. Consequently, the fate of Margaret's brother didn't exactly keep me up nights worrying. Or reading this book. (A kind of stupid obstinacy kept me reading.)
Eugene works for a cab company, the same outfit that once employed Carlotta. And pretty soon, Carlotta's back driving a cab, following Eugene's compatriots around the streets of Boston, seeking clues to Eugene's disappearance. Carlotta also reacquaints herself with Mooney, a police detective, and tries to enlist him to play the part of T.C. The obligatory (tepid) love interest is provided by Carlotta's ex-boyfriend, Sam, who owns the cab company.
Stuff happens, and the above plot threads - cab company, local police department, T.C.'s prize money - are bound together reasonably well with an IRA money-making scheme (as in Irish Republican Army, not retirement - the novel was first published in the 80s).
The pace was just too meandering, and Carlotta, despite the occasional witty insight, felt like just about every other young, single sleuth in the genre. I got sort of annoyed with her at the end when she goes all schmopey over the death of the antagonist. (She shows up at the funeral, with flowers.) The guy is a drug dealer, precisely the kind of person who endangers the life of Paulina, her little sister/surrogate daughter. Maybe the point was to show that Carlotta was kind-hearted, but honestly, all it did was make her look like an ass.
Yeah, a boring review for an uninspiring book. This is the start of a series that spawned many more books, so evidently the character and setting works for other readers.
February 3, 2022
The book started quite well and I liked Carlotta right from the start, but the problem for all this type of mystery/thrillers is that there has to be something that sets them apart from the hundreds of very similar books already out there.
This could be that the plot is very clever and well written or the main character has something special about them or there is a relationship that provides an interesting sub-plot. The problem with this book it turned out it didn’t really have any of these.
The story was OK, but nothing special and the middle of the book was a bit of a drag with very little happening. It did improve in the last quarter, although there were some aspects that were a bit unbelievable, like an unarmed handcuffed drug runner escaping from dozens of Police and FBI agents in the middle of a bus station.
I liked Carlotta, but instead of becoming more enamoured with her as the story progressed I found myself caring less and less, especially when she decided to get involved with Sam.
In the end the thing that kept me reading was the relationship between Carlotta and Paulina and unfortunately this was a very minor storyline.
This could be that the plot is very clever and well written or the main character has something special about them or there is a relationship that provides an interesting sub-plot. The problem with this book it turned out it didn’t really have any of these.
The story was OK, but nothing special and the middle of the book was a bit of a drag with very little happening. It did improve in the last quarter, although there were some aspects that were a bit unbelievable, like an unarmed handcuffed drug runner escaping from dozens of Police and FBI agents in the middle of a bus station.
I liked Carlotta, but instead of becoming more enamoured with her as the story progressed I found myself caring less and less, especially when she decided to get involved with Sam.
In the end the thing that kept me reading was the relationship between Carlotta and Paulina and unfortunately this was a very minor storyline.
January 16, 2014
This is the first of this series. I found it hard to get into the first part of the book. Too much of Carlotta thoughts and not enough actions. Part way through this changed and I found the Carlotta I knew. Carlotta is focus on a guy passing drugs near Paolina's school. She has received a letter for TC Carlyle. TC is Tom Cat, her cat. She is hired to find a cabbie missing for two weeks. You don't need to read this book to understand the rest of the series; but it adds depth. I give the series a 5.
Merged review:
This is the first of this series. I found it hard to get into the first part of the book. Too much of Carlotta thoughts and not enough actions. Part way through this changed and I found the Carlotta I knew. Carlotta is focus on a guy passing drugs near Paolina's school. She has received a letter for TC Carlyle. TC is Tom Cat, her cat. She is hired to find a cabbie missing for two weeks. You don't need to read this book to understand the rest of the series; but it adds depth. I give the series a 5.
Merged review:
This is the first of this series. I found it hard to get into the first part of the book. Too much of Carlotta thoughts and not enough actions. Part way through this changed and I found the Carlotta I knew. Carlotta is focus on a guy passing drugs near Paolina's school. She has received a letter for TC Carlyle. TC is Tom Cat, her cat. She is hired to find a cabbie missing for two weeks. You don't need to read this book to understand the rest of the series; but it adds depth. I give the series a 5.
June 24, 2008
A Trouble of Fools is a pretty solid entry in the "quirky private investigator" genre. My biggest quibble would be that Carlotta Carlyle, the aforementioned quirky PI, seems like her character might have been assembled by some sort of MadLibs process -- ex-cop, ex-cabbie, six-foot, redhead private eye who lives in Boston with a cat, her late aunt's parakeet and a crazy artist roommate. I guess others don't mind, because Linda Barnes has gone on to write 11 more novels about Carlyle. I don't think I'll be joining the throngs, however.
February 1, 2018
I think I read this book about 20 years ago(?) and wanted to revisit the series. I think I'll continue with it. It wasn't quite as good as I remembered, but I like Carlotta's sense of humor and I like her Tomcat! :D So I'll try one more and see how that one goes before deciding whether to go all in or throw in the towel.
C. J. Critt does a great job with the audio performance. It was a little slow, so it was nice to have the Audible, where I could speed up the pace.
C. J. Critt does a great job with the audio performance. It was a little slow, so it was nice to have the Audible, where I could speed up the pace.
December 27, 2014
I've read other books in this series and basically all revolve around drugs or the mafia of which I have no interest. This one added the Irish Republican Army to the fun. I grabbed this one because I needed a book with Fools in the title and it fit. I kept waiting for something to happen but it just plodded along with it's drug, IRA and mafia connections. So not my type of book. This will be the last book I'll read in this series as I don't particularly like Carlotta or anyone else for that matter.
October 19, 2008
This book reminded me a bit of the Janet Evanovich books. A quirky woman detective, Carlotta Carlye muddles through mysteries and men. There is a cast of "characters", too. Roz, her artistic tenant, Mooney (the Morelli of this book), Sam and Gloria...all bigger than life. In place of Grandma Mazur, we get Yiddish quotes from Carlotta's grandmother like, " All is not butter that comes from a cow." I guess there are more Carlotta Carlyle books and I'm eager to read another.
June 14, 2014
I read a book from the middle of the series and liked it so much that I started back at the beginning of the series. I got it as an audio book and listened while I readied my apartment for a family visit. It was the most fun I've ever had cleaning. Just got the 2nd book in the series too. I'm hooked. Carlotta is a great character. Roz is so much fun too. Love Mooney. Can't wait to continue the series.
August 24, 2019
Good beginning to this series, a new one for me but one which I will continue reading. Carlotta Carlyle is a 6'1" former Boston cop with flaming red hair now working as a private investigator and also as a part-time taxi driver. She is hired by Margaret Devens, a sweet old lady, to find her missing brother, Eugene Devens. Gene and his fellow Irish-American cabbies long for the "good old days" when they collected money for the IRA, so they are susceptible to a new man who claims to be restarting the mission to raise money for guns for the IRA. Carlotta begins the search and soon enlists the aid of her cop friend Mooney as the investigation expands into something much bigger than she could handle alone.
The plot and subplots are serious but at the same time lots of fun, as are the characters, making this a thoroughly enjoyable story. I'm looking forward to getting to know them better in the books following this first entry.
The plot and subplots are serious but at the same time lots of fun, as are the characters, making this a thoroughly enjoyable story. I'm looking forward to getting to know them better in the books following this first entry.
January 28, 2019
For some reason this book didn't resonate with me. I'm not really into books about the mafia and drugs, at all, so I think that's mainly why I wasn't too into this one. It was too slow-paced for me as well.
Carlotta Carlyle is the MC who is a former taxi drive and cop turned PI. The story line/plot was just OK but nothing special or unique. I wasn't into the relationship between Carlotta and Sam. What I did enjoy reading about was relationship between Paulina and Carlotta, but there wasn't enough to really delve into that. Thus my 2-star rating.
Carlotta Carlyle is the MC who is a former taxi drive and cop turned PI. The story line/plot was just OK but nothing special or unique. I wasn't into the relationship between Carlotta and Sam. What I did enjoy reading about was relationship between Paulina and Carlotta, but there wasn't enough to really delve into that. Thus my 2-star rating.
August 8, 2017
meh... put it this way I fell asleep through a long chunk of the middle of the book and felt no desire to rewind and listen to the part I missed.
January 8, 2021
If you like PI novels you'll probably enjoy this. It's not my favorite sort of mystery, but this wasn't too bad ... though there were a LOT of commas in weird places. The book was written in 1987 so the first thing is to not expect current technology. The PI is an ex-cop who also used to drive a cab -- which is convenient for this story. It's completely 1st person which, for me, does get old after a while. I don't plan to continue the series, however.
July 28, 2024
Not bad. Not bad at all. Will definitely be reading the next in the series.
September 10, 2023
An enjoyable romp thru old Boston, with the Combat Zone live and well, including taxis and smoking. Can't wait to read more.
January 7, 2011
Total cliche private-eye mystery. Nothing special or intriguing.
December 19, 2012
A fast engaging read. Tis book sucjed me in right away.
December 20, 2013
Good, solid comfort read in the series that I missed first-time around.
August 24, 2014
Well written, interesting characters, good story line, but I struggled to stay interested.
April 6, 2018
More of a 2.5 I suppose, but it came off as mediocre Sue Grafton.
December 19, 2023
Carlotta used to be a police officer. When she'd had enough she turned to the private eye industry. An elderly woman shows up needing help finding her brother. Carlotta takes on the case but finds it goes deeper than she imagined and it involves some of her old haunts.
The man used to work at the cab company Carlotta worked at before joining the force. A bunch of the old duffers seem to be up to something and involves the missing man. After someone is assaulted, Carlotta realizes that things are pretty serious. She goes undercover to see if she can figure it out.
In the meantime she's watching a drug pusher that lives near her "little sister," Paulina. (As in the Big Brother, Big Sister program.) Carlotta wants him gone, but the police seem to be dragging.
I thought this book was fine. It was easy to listen to and moved pretty quickly. You know I'm always on the look out for a good mystery series and I'll definitely at least try book 2.
There were a couple things that bothered me and if they continue in book 2 I'll have to cut out. First off was the whole Paulina thing. I can't tell you how many times Paulina was brought up and how Carlotta will never let anything happen to her. It got really old really fast. It was a boring plot line. It would've been fine to mention it once, but the readers have no feelings for Paulina, we don't get to know her at all, just Carlotta constantly bringing her up.
That leads into my other complaint, Sam. Suddenly Carlotta is sleeping with him and acting like she cares so much about him, but I'm not exaggerated when I say he had less than ten lines of dialogue. (Just like Paulina!) It was stupid. Regarding Sam and Paulina it was very TELL not show and that's lazy writing to me. I want to care about characters especially if they'll be around awhile.
There was another cop that seems to have a thing for Carlotta and I'm hoping something more comes from that because he at least had a personality and a role in the story so we got to know him.
Another niggle I had with the plot was the whole
We'll see how book 2 goes! One nice thing about this series is that it seems to mostly be available at the library. While I appreciate that, I'm not sure it's a good thing. Haha!
The man used to work at the cab company Carlotta worked at before joining the force. A bunch of the old duffers seem to be up to something and involves the missing man. After someone is assaulted, Carlotta realizes that things are pretty serious. She goes undercover to see if she can figure it out.
In the meantime she's watching a drug pusher that lives near her "little sister," Paulina. (As in the Big Brother, Big Sister program.) Carlotta wants him gone, but the police seem to be dragging.
I thought this book was fine. It was easy to listen to and moved pretty quickly. You know I'm always on the look out for a good mystery series and I'll definitely at least try book 2.
There were a couple things that bothered me and if they continue in book 2 I'll have to cut out. First off was the whole Paulina thing. I can't tell you how many times Paulina was brought up and how Carlotta will never let anything happen to her. It got really old really fast. It was a boring plot line. It would've been fine to mention it once, but the readers have no feelings for Paulina, we don't get to know her at all, just Carlotta constantly bringing her up.
That leads into my other complaint, Sam. Suddenly Carlotta is sleeping with him and acting like she cares so much about him, but I'm not exaggerated when I say he had less than ten lines of dialogue. (Just like Paulina!) It was stupid. Regarding Sam and Paulina it was very TELL not show and that's lazy writing to me. I want to care about characters especially if they'll be around awhile.
There was another cop that seems to have a thing for Carlotta and I'm hoping something more comes from that because he at least had a personality and a role in the story so we got to know him.
Another niggle I had with the plot was the whole
We'll see how book 2 goes! One nice thing about this series is that it seems to mostly be available at the library. While I appreciate that, I'm not sure it's a good thing. Haha!
June 27, 2020
This is a 1987 book by the American mystery writer Linda Barnes and is the first book in the Boston private investigator Carlotta Carlyle series. Carlotta is a 6”1’ redhead who is an ex-Boston cop. She is a hard-boiled female PI like Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone and Sara Paretsky’s V. I. Warshawski, all characters that were created in the 1980s. Barnes’ writing is crisp and witty and the story moves at a pretty good pace. There are quite a few twists and turns in the book and the plot is quite interesting.
The story is about Carlotta got hired by a new client, an old lady called Margaret Devens, to find her missing brother Eugene who has disappeared for 10 days. Eugune is in his mid-fifties and is a cab driver for Green & White Cab in Boston. Many cab drivers for that company are elderly Bostonians of Irish heritage and are members of an old Irish social club called Gaelic Brotherhood Association and has provided financial supports for the Irish Republican Army in the 1970s. Soon after Carlotta started looking into the disappearance, Margaret Devens was attacked in her home and her house ransacked. It turns out what happened was there were a bunch of old Irish cab drivers at Green & White Cab who are sympathetic to the IRA and want to raise money for them. A drug pusher called Jackie Flaherty falsely presented himself as an IRA organizer in Boston and convinced the group of elderly drivers to help him secretly move money and guns purportedly for the IRA by using their radio dispatch system and the cab network. What really were in those sealed packages were drugs and drug monies and Jackie were using the cab drivers as mules. When Eugene Devens got curious about the packages, opened one up, and figured out the plot, he was murdered. Carlotta ultimately figured out the drug distribution system herself through some pretty good detective work. She then worked with her friend Mooney at the Boston police department to organize a spectacular takedown of Jackie Flaherty and his gang without getting the cab drivers in trouble. In the end, a black masked IRA gunman showed up and shot Jackie Flaherty dead.
The story is about Carlotta got hired by a new client, an old lady called Margaret Devens, to find her missing brother Eugene who has disappeared for 10 days. Eugune is in his mid-fifties and is a cab driver for Green & White Cab in Boston. Many cab drivers for that company are elderly Bostonians of Irish heritage and are members of an old Irish social club called Gaelic Brotherhood Association and has provided financial supports for the Irish Republican Army in the 1970s. Soon after Carlotta started looking into the disappearance, Margaret Devens was attacked in her home and her house ransacked. It turns out what happened was there were a bunch of old Irish cab drivers at Green & White Cab who are sympathetic to the IRA and want to raise money for them. A drug pusher called Jackie Flaherty falsely presented himself as an IRA organizer in Boston and convinced the group of elderly drivers to help him secretly move money and guns purportedly for the IRA by using their radio dispatch system and the cab network. What really were in those sealed packages were drugs and drug monies and Jackie were using the cab drivers as mules. When Eugene Devens got curious about the packages, opened one up, and figured out the plot, he was murdered. Carlotta ultimately figured out the drug distribution system herself through some pretty good detective work. She then worked with her friend Mooney at the Boston police department to organize a spectacular takedown of Jackie Flaherty and his gang without getting the cab drivers in trouble. In the end, a black masked IRA gunman showed up and shot Jackie Flaherty dead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2021
The story and character development were well organized and written. In my current mood, I prefer something less dark. Oh, there was some almost comical irony, but it didn’t compensate for the scamming and murder of gullible old Boston cab drivers. I notice the structure of the environment where the main character, Carlotta Carlyle, lives is similar to the one created by Sara Paretsky for her character V.I. Warshawski. Both are women detectives with law enforcement backgrounds in large cities. Both have memories of ethnic families and neighborhoods of their childhoods. Both share a building with an artist, rely on someone sharing a building to be companions for clients and rely on colleagues from past law enforcement. Both authors describe roads and traffic when their characters drive. What makes V.I. easier for me to read is that she is in Chicago where I grew up. I can more easily visualize the roads and destinations in Paretsky’s titles than in Barnes’. V.I. was a public defender and practices law to supplement her income from investigations. Carlotta’s various income sources are more limited. V.I. has at least 2 mother hen type advisors who are interesting characters on their own while Carlotta’s possible mother hen was more a strong victim and more remote. Carlotta’s protectors are 2 men who weren’t presented as very reliable. Hope these comparisons don’t spoil Barnes’ writing for you. I imagine trying Barnes’ work again and enjoying the more gritty, more financially fragile, more romantically unsettled version of a woman investigator.
November 28, 2023
I was so engrossed by the Carlotta Carlyle series that I was starting the fourth instalment before it struck me that I hadn't reviewed the first three.
The first, “A Trouble of Fools”, introduces the reader to former Boston cop, now under-employed P.I She's 31-year-old a redhead, over six feet tall, and of mixed heritage, Jewish and Irish being most to the fore. She plays Blues guitar (not as well as she'd like to), is divorced from a drug addict, and is not averse to violence
She's somewhat of a loner but has a few close friends, among them her former boss Mooney. She likes him but, while he sometimes pursues her, she doesn't get a romantic spark from him.
The man who is sometimes in her life, and her bed, is Sam Gianelli who may, or may not, be a crime boss.
And, central to the series, is her 11-year-old sister Paolina (not a real sister but a legacy from the Big Sister programme when she was a cop).
Miss Margaret Devens, an elderly woman, wants Carlotta to find her brother Eugene. He's been missing for over a week. He was a driver for Green and White Cab, where Carlotta also occasionally works.
At first there is little or no indication that Eugene has done anything except take an unannounced holiday to the Emerald Isle. But when Margaret Devens is brutally attacked, and her home ransacked, the clues begin to indicate something far more sinister.
The book takes a while to build up a head of steam but, when I am enjoying reading, I quite like a meandering course.
And I enjoyed “Trouble of Fools” tremendously.
4 Stars.
The first, “A Trouble of Fools”, introduces the reader to former Boston cop, now under-employed P.I She's 31-year-old a redhead, over six feet tall, and of mixed heritage, Jewish and Irish being most to the fore. She plays Blues guitar (not as well as she'd like to), is divorced from a drug addict, and is not averse to violence
She's somewhat of a loner but has a few close friends, among them her former boss Mooney. She likes him but, while he sometimes pursues her, she doesn't get a romantic spark from him.
The man who is sometimes in her life, and her bed, is Sam Gianelli who may, or may not, be a crime boss.
And, central to the series, is her 11-year-old sister Paolina (not a real sister but a legacy from the Big Sister programme when she was a cop).
Miss Margaret Devens, an elderly woman, wants Carlotta to find her brother Eugene. He's been missing for over a week. He was a driver for Green and White Cab, where Carlotta also occasionally works.
At first there is little or no indication that Eugene has done anything except take an unannounced holiday to the Emerald Isle. But when Margaret Devens is brutally attacked, and her home ransacked, the clues begin to indicate something far more sinister.
The book takes a while to build up a head of steam but, when I am enjoying reading, I quite like a meandering course.
And I enjoyed “Trouble of Fools” tremendously.
4 Stars.
August 11, 2021
I did not care for the start, much. Felt I couldn't really get my footing, which is somewhat silly in a little pulpy detective thing. But the main character grows on you. She seems to be a really good balance between messy and disorganized and functional and efficient. If she was too one way or the other, I think she would have been a lot less likeable.
The main character owns a cat. And a bird. These are always story enhancements.
The story takes place in Boston in the 1980s. Naturally, oh so naturally, I enjoyed this. I miss the northeast. And I miss the northeast in the 80s. A lot.
But some of the most amusing elements are when the characters have to use phones! Hey - landlines, PAY PHONES. Remember all that stuff? Heh!
The storyline was sufficient - the author actually surprised me with her skill in tying the threads into one cogent and reasonable plot. I also am going to give an extra star of appreciation to the climactic scene wherein a surprise "player" is actually the one to deal with the bad guy. I am impressed because I did not see that coming and it is both fitting and interesting.
I think the author knew when to wrap this story up; it doesn't go on needlessly and it ends when it needs to.
Good for those who are looking for a female detective/cop character. Good for those who remember and understand the 80s. A quick read, a quick-TARDIS ride back to the 80s.
The main character owns a cat. And a bird. These are always story enhancements.
The story takes place in Boston in the 1980s. Naturally, oh so naturally, I enjoyed this. I miss the northeast. And I miss the northeast in the 80s. A lot.
But some of the most amusing elements are when the characters have to use phones! Hey - landlines, PAY PHONES. Remember all that stuff? Heh!
The storyline was sufficient - the author actually surprised me with her skill in tying the threads into one cogent and reasonable plot. I also am going to give an extra star of appreciation to the climactic scene wherein a surprise "player" is actually the one to deal with the bad guy. I am impressed because I did not see that coming and it is both fitting and interesting.
I think the author knew when to wrap this story up; it doesn't go on needlessly and it ends when it needs to.
Good for those who are looking for a female detective/cop character. Good for those who remember and understand the 80s. A quick read, a quick-TARDIS ride back to the 80s.
Read
May 5, 2020TROUBLE…
Since being bounced from the Boston police for insubordination after six years of service, Carlotta Carlyle has set up shop as a private investigator ready to deal with anything from lost pets to substantially grander larcenies. Though Carlotta, a six-foot-tall, redheaded ex cop, part-time cabbie, and neophyte private eye, works out of her home, it's rare that clients stop by unannounced. Especially clients like the genteel, reserved, elderly spinster Miss Margaret Devens.
ALWAYS COMES…
With cash flow problems and a caseload so light that she's taken to reading her cat's mail, Carlotta accepts the case of Miss Devens's missing brother Eugene. Oddly enough, Carlotta knew Eugene when they worked together back at Green and White Cab. As far as Carlotta sees it, this case should be a pinch--until two thugs looking for money send her client to the hospital.
WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT…
The old lady's missing brother seems to have been involved in something much more dangerous than simply driving a cab. Carlotta is determined to do whatever it takes?work the cops, pose as a hooker, and even drive a cab again--to find Eugene before it's too late.
Good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2024
A very entertaining little modern noir novel, and by modern I mean 1980s. It is definitely in the tradition of Raymond Chandler and Robert Parker, although not quite at the same level. However, this is only the first book in the Carlotta Carlyle PI series, so I am sure that they get even better as the series progresses. I love that it has a female author and protagonist. Noir tends to be a very male dominated genre, both in authors and main characters. The Carlotta Carlyle character is already compelling and brings a different perspective to the genre. I stumbled on this book by chance at a local Little Library book share. It ended up being a great find. I will be seeking out more of Linda Barnes’s books.
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