Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
The Time of the Wolf
Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
William D. Blankenship
Class/Genre: Mystery Amateur Sleuth
Donald I Fine, Oct 1998, $24.95, 326 pp.
William "Billy Boy" Watkins, owner of Watkins Oil Exploration and Development, spares no expense when he wants something so Connecticut antiques dealer Kay Williams is not shocked to hear from the billionaire while she is flying over Indonesia. He hires her to research the upcoming auction of what is claimed to be the original Jim Bowie knife lost at the Alamo. After landing in New York some twelve hours later, Kay investigates the knife and the competition.
The small field is very competitive to the point that one of the individuals is willing to kill to own the knife. Kay finds herself investigating more than a century and a half year old knife. She is looking into who among the supposed bidders is a killer. Is it a federal agent or the Russian he is investigating? Could it be the weathy Japanese businessman or her own sleazy ex-husband? Whoever is the murderer, Kay knows that she either uncovers his identity, become his next victim, or leave town without completing her client's wishes.
The action is non-stop and the characters are first rate as they are fully developed and stay within persona during their interactions. The inclusion of Texas history and the Bowie legend add much prestige to this fascinating novel. The minute detail on auctions is both interesting, yet tedious. With this amateur sleuth tale and his previous works (see THE TIME OF THE CRICKET), readers will concur that this is the time of William D. Blankenship.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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