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Carpenter and Quincannon : Professional Detective Services by Bill Pronzini
Book Description 1890's detection in the Old West! When you are faced with puzzles involving fraudulent rainmakers, nefarious spiritualists, coney games,a one-eyed lady gambler, a crook who disappears from a train, the stolen body of a Chinese Tong leader, and similar mysteries -- you hire the firm of Carpenter and Quincannon, Professional Detective Services. Sabina Carpenter, the widow of a Pinkerton detective, has joined forces with John Quincannon, a former United States Secret Service agent—in fact, Quincannon would like to join forces in other ways, but his partner continues to resist his lustful advances. Carpenter and Quincannon includes some of Bill Pronzini's finest short stories. Reader Reviews 2 of 5 people found the following review helpful: pronzini needs to find better ways to keep reader involved, June 2, 1999 Reviewer: A reader bill pronzini's carpenter and quincannon lacks clear focus and thought. While i read the book in hopes of being entertained, the various detective stories pronzini writes about are as elementary and outdated as the very events in time that take place. While he utilizes a clear and consice writing style, one that incorporates a kind of formalistic, European-Anglo type, the content of a suspenseful, thought-provoking narrative definitely lacks. While he writes about various detective stints that his San Francisco detective agency encounters, the stories lack a good climax and fail to keep the reader guessing as professional detective stories often do.
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