Motive in Shadow

Jesse Falkenstein #10

by Lesley Egan

Claire Elizabeth Manning, elderly and successful California business-woman, has died, leaving a tiny percentage of her money-a suspiciously EXACT amount-to her beloved only son. The remainiing millions are bequeathed to an unknown and unusually difficult-to-locate third cousin in New Jersey. Lawyer Jesse Falkenstein is called in by the son to contest the will and finds himself drawn into a terrifying search for meaning and motive as he tries to piece together the dead woman's past. Fifty-year old diaries and letters provide enigmatic clues, yet nothing more recent can be found to shed any light on the mystery. Evidence of blackmail is unearthed, then suspicions of former infidelities, and before he knows what's happening, Falkenstein has more information than can possibly be applicable. But when he is brutally beaten in his own driveway, Falkenstein knows he's on the right track, a track that will eventually lead him to a secret over half a century old....

Genres: Mystery, Crime

181 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

A pseudonym used by Elizabeth Linington.

Reviews

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lawyer Jesse Falkenstein undertakes to help young Bob Manning, who was shocked by his late mother's unexpected will. She left a very valuable family business to a distant cousin on the East Coast, and no one can figure out why.
Jesse starts digging into Claire Elizabeth Manning's history, which began with an elopement and led to the 1920s-era Hollywood real estate boom. But nothing in Claire's past points clearly to her reasons for suddenly disinheriting her son... until Jesse locates an old diary and some letters from Claire's childhood friends and relations. Could the reason be buried back that far? Or are the hints that Claire's perfect love story with Bob Sr. wasn't so perfect hold the real clue?
Lesley Egan's stories are like a forensics examination, turning over every layer carefully, studying it, then moving on to the next bit of trace evidence. Some readers may be irritated by the end revelations that explain the solution to the mystery in these books. Some seem to come out of left field, or reference back to a character passed by casually earlier in the story. This one is definitely in the out-of-left-field group. It's still pleasant to spend time with Jesse and his family, which in this book enjoys the addition of a Siamese cat curiously attached to the Falkenstein's new house in the Hollywood hills.

[TriCedratops · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've got to admit I picked up this book from a Little Free Library solely for the purpose of cutting up its cover for a collage with little intention of reading it.

Lightweight and less than 200 pages, I randomly threw it my bag to read during my daily commute and I'm glad I did. It's an enjoyable read with plenty of interesting plot twists right up to the final few pages and for that, I'm giving it 4 stars.

I will be putting this one in my own Little Free Library going up this Spring - minus the dust jacket 😉

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Manning Company is a big business, but although it was headed by Claire Manning, the founder's widow, before her death, her son John had been running the firm for many years and was her undisputed successor. So why did Claire leave almost everything to her third cousin, whom no one associated with the firm has ever heard of? Enter Attorney Jesse Falkenstein, who is launched into an investigation of Claire Manning's past--and a litany of treachery, fraud, blackmail, abortion, impersonation and sudden death.

[Sandi Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concept. I've read this book many years ago and when I reread it I'm always amazed at the male idea of always coming home to a home cooked meal and never approving of working wives. But in all her books that I have read, -Lesley Egan. Dell Shannon, Elizabeth Linington- those were he basis of how things should be. Rather narrow but if you skip over that old, outdated idea the story is rather compelling. Not the worst of the series by any means.