Created by Ruthe Furie
(1930-)
FRAN KIRK was once a battered wife, but she survived both a nasty divorce and the death of her ex to bec0me a private eye in Cheektowaga, New York (near Buffalo) in this well-regarded series of novels by Ruthe Furie.
The debut, 1995’s If Looks Could Kill, finds Fran living with her dog Horace and trying to regain control of her life. She’s working as a of do-everything gal for a shady dating service/insurance investigation firm.
In fact, both books were nominated for Shamus Awards, although neither won. If Looks Could Kill (1995) was nominated for Best First P.I. Novel, and A Natural Death (1996) was a finalist in the Best P.I. Paperback Original category.
There’s a lot of talk about women’s rights and plenty of demonstrations of toxic masculinity in the first two, while the third book, A Deadly Paté (1997) , has her zipping off to France to defend her aunt’s rep as a gourmet chef when a culinary rival is poisoned.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ruthe Furie is a journalist who has worked at The New York Daily News, The Buffalo News and The Hackensack Record. She’s also written at least one short story featuring caterer/P.I. B.T. Jefferson (Furie’s heroes seems to have a thing for side gigs) and has co-written a mystery novel, Hell Gate (1991), with her former husband, David Stout (1942-2020), who won an Edgar for his first novel, Carolina Skeletons (1988).
NOVELS
- If Looks Could Kill (1995) | Buy this book
- A Natural Death (1996) | Buy this book
- A Deadly Paté (1997) | Buy this book
FURTHER INVESTIGATION
- A New York State of Mind
Empire State Eyes
Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.
