Created by Ruthe Furie
(1930-)
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 sort of do-everything gal for a shady dating service/insurance investigation firm.
In fact, two of the 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, dysfunctional relationships, and plenty of demonstrations of toxic masculinity in the first two, while the third book, A Deadly Paté (1997) , has Fran reluctantly zipping off to France for a funeral and finds herself working to defend her ex’s 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
THE DICK OF THE DAY
- October 12, 2026
THE BOTTOM LINE: It’s bad enough being married to an abusive drunk and going through a nasty divorce, but to then be accused of his murder? Sheesh! Fortunately this ex-battered wife turned Buffalo area PI rises above it all, even if she has to work part-time for a dubious dating service/insurance investigation firm.
Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.
