Book Review: Beacon Street Mourning

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Beacon Street Mourning     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Dianne Day
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Historical
Series: Fremont Jones # 6
Doubleday, Sep 2000, $22.95, 288 pp.

Over four years ago, Fremont Jones, a prominent young woman in Boston high society, left her home to escape the social pressure fostered on her by the upper crust. She journeyed to San Francisco where she opened up a typing business. On the West Coast, Fremont met the love of her life, Michael Kossoff, a former(?) spy for both the American and Russian governments. They survived the first great twentieth century earthquake in the area and now manage a detective business, the J and K Agency.

While recovering from some recent injuries, Fremont worries about not hearing from her East Coast father. She learns that he is probably dying. Fremont wonders if her detested stepmother Augusta is involved with her dad’s failing health. She arranges for her father to go to the hospital and accompanied by Michael, heads east to visit him. While in Boston, Fremont sees her dad rallying. He leaves the hospital only to die from a sudden heart attack. Fremont and Michael investigate Augusta‘s activities as they expect foul play occurred until someone kills the wicked stepmother.

Dianne Day is one of the better historical mysteries on the market today. Fremont is a great character struggling with gender discrimination in the first decade of the twentieth century. Her independence stamps her as unacceptably strange. BEACON STREET MOURNING is a thought-provoking tale that is an insightful social commentary as well as an in depth character study. Adding to the fun of this novel is that for the the first time in the series, the audience glimpses what drove Fremont to go west young lady. Fans will understand her demons and motives even as new readers search for previous tales in a fabulous series.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner