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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780553573992
ISBN number: 0553573993
Label: Crimeline
Manufacturer: Crimeline
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 368
Printing Date: July 01, 1995
Publishing house: Crimeline
Release Date: June 01, 1995
Sale Popularity Level: 159177
Studio: Crimeline
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
This gripping debut of the Kate Martinelli mystery series won the Edgar Award for Best First Mystery, generating wide critical acclaim and moving Laurie R. King into the upper tier of the genre. As A Grave Talent begins, the unthinkable has happened in a small community outside of San Francisco. A string of shocking murders has occurred, each victim an innocent child. For Detective Kate Martinelli, just promoted to Homicide and paired with a seasoned cop who's less than thrilled to be handed a purple partner, it's going to be a difficult case. Then the detectives receive what appears to be a case-breaking lead: it seems that one of the residents of this odd, close-knit colony is Vaun Adams, arguably the century's greatest painter of women, a man, as it turns out, with a sinister secret. For behind the brushes and canvases also stands a notorious felon once convicted of strangling a little girl. What really happened on that day of savage violence eighteen years ago? To bring a murderer to justice, Kate must delve into the artist's dark past--even if she knows it means losing everything she holds dear.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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I really enjoyed Laurie King's "The Beekeeper's Apprentice", so I looked forward to reading this introduction to a new female detective in San Francisco, Kate Martinelli. Unfortunately I thought the book, though well-written, was not a very interesting mystery. There was a highly contrived device to place all suspicion in one small cmmunity, a way too obvious suspect and not enough believable development of some of the main characters. I agree with previous criticism that Martinelli's partner is supposed to be tough and demanding, but he turns into a pussycat in a couple of pages and for the rest of the book. Also, the main suspect is constantly described as more remarkable and special than just about anyone else on the planet, but we're always just TOLD that, rarely SHOWN it.
This is NOT a horrible book. Just not great. I don't resent the time I spent on it, but I won't read another in the series either.
Rated by buyers 
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All of the Martinelli (and Russell) novels are extremely well done. I enjoy books with a good plot, but moreover really appreciate good character development. Ms. King does an exceptional job letting you enjoy the growth of her characters. I think the best way to let you all know how much I enjoyed her books is to say that I don't READ many books. I travel a lot for work and LISTEN to audiobooks almost exclusively. I could not get a number of her titles from the online audiobook service I utilize (audible.com), so on one trip I picked up a paperback copy of A Grave Talent at the airport. I completed it very quickly. I bought the subsequent Martinelli book (To Play the Fool) soon after and completed it in one sitting which is absolutely unheard of for me!
Rated by buyers 
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A friend turned me on to Laurie King by lending me To Play the Fool.
I was hooked right away.
My subsequent Laurie King book was A Grave Talent
The story was intriguing, the characters were compelling and the action exciting.
I have recommended both books to my friends.
Jewel
Rated by buyers -
Surely this is one of the best mysteries of the 1990s. King sets a new standard for including complex themes in a who-dunnit, and introduces her detective, Kate, while giving us vivid settings and the added bonus of art.
Do not cheat by looking at the end.
The rest of this series is a bit uneven, but With Child and Night Work are excellent. King's Mary Russell series is much better, and her stand-alones are wonderful. If you've just discovered King, you are very lucky indeed.
Rated by buyers -
I really got into this book. I had never read this author before but I will be picking up some of her other books. I would like to try her Sherlock Holmes series also. I'm not going to write a plot summary since so many others on Amazon have already written one. I really enjoyed the exploration of the characters in this book. Kate, the main character, grows and you find out so much about her. You feel her struggles, triumphs and sadness in this book. I also enjoyed her partner and watching how he handles the stress of a case. This book kept me on my toes until the end. I didn't know who the murderer was and Ms. King keeps the twists coming. I'm looking forward to buying the subsequent in the series to see what has been happening to the characters. I would highly recommend this series so far to anyone looking for a good mystery.
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