''The Turquoise Shop'' (1941) is a

mystery novel Mystery is a fiction genre where the nature of an event, usually a murder or other crime, remains mysterious until the end of the story. Often within a closed circle of suspects, each suspect is usually provided with a credible motive and a re ...

by the American writer

Frances Crane Frances Kirkwood Crane (October 27, 1890 – November 6, 1981) was an American Mystery fiction, mystery author, who introduced private investigator Pat Abbott and his future wife Jean in her first novel, ''The Turquoise Shop'' (1941). The Abbott ...

Synopsis

Several months ago, Mona Brandon's artist husband disappeared, and his body has now surfaced deep in the heart of the nearby desert, pecked beyond recognition by a horde of odious

turkey vulture The turkey vulture (''Cathartes aura'') is the most widespread of the New World vultures. One of three species in the genus '' Cathartes'' of the family Cathartidae, the turkey vulture ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of Sou ...

s. This event coincides with the mysterious arrival of Pat Abbott, a handsomely rugged

private investigator A private investigator (often abbreviated to PI; also known as a private detective, an inquiry agent or informally a wikt:private eye, private eye) is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. ...

from San Francisco with hopes of pursuing an art career, while the shallow and snobbish Mona finds herself ostracized by her small

New Mexico New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...

community of Santa Maria, including Jean Holly, the owner of The Turquoise Shop, after she had her own beautiful teenager daughter incarcerated by police. However, Mona soon becomes the focus of local attention when murder strikes again at her luxurious mansion home, and the various creative talents assembled there soon fall under suspicion.

References

1941 American novels American crime novels Novels set in New Mexico J. B. Lippincott & Co. books {{1940s-crime-novel-stub