Wolf in the Shadows

June 28, 1993
Alpha female of the pack of American PIs, San Francisco investigator Sharon McCone learns for herself how tough her readers have long known her to be in this, her 14th appearance. On a case that winds through her personal history, Sharon hides out in her childhood home near San Diego and crosses, not always legally, the U.S.-Mexican border to end up facing a future quite different than what she--or we--might have predicted. All Souls Legal Cooperative, long Sharon's employer, is assuming a corporate air; the partners want their unconventional investigator to move into a more administrative position. At the same time, her lover Hy Ripinsky disappears. She traces him to a slick security firm for whom he apparently agreed to deliver the $2 million ransom to the abductors of the CEO of a biotech company about to market a cancer drug. The drug, extracted from dolphin cartilage, has roused the fear and ire of environmentalist groups with whom Hy had once been associated. The high-tech security outfit is convinced Hy has stolen the ransom; Sharon, unsure of anything, says she'll find him and get back the money. Evading their suspicious operatives and the cops, she infiltrates southern California's community of illegals, makes some valuable friends and fierce enemies and learns in a final, breathtaking confrontation the full extent of her own resources. With a finely tuned secondary cast, well-drawn settings and a satisfyingly intricate plot held firmly in hand (except for a few moments of minor melodrama and some unnecessary foreshadowing), Muller keeps the spotlight on Sharon here. She shines. Mystery Guild selection .

May 1, 1993
Popular San Francisco private eye Sharon McCone discovers dangerous surprises when she searches for her secretive missing lover, who apparently has connections in the Mexican underworld.

Copyright 1993 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 1993
YA-Sharon McCone continues her sleuthing adventures. While she carries a weapon and is obviously tough, her approach is much more subtle than that of many of her male counterparts. Her reasoning is logical and straightforward. In an entertaining twist, the object of her investigation is none other than her current lover, who has turned up missing in the middle of a murder case. Muller spends sufficient time describing the locals (southern California and northern Mexico), giving the story a good sense of place. With its fast-paced narrative, no unnecessary violence, and satisfying ending, this is a good choice for mystery fans.