“Maggie Estep is a writer of a thousand voices. . . . She can get into just about anyone’s head, including the horses who are such strong, individualized characters in this series.” —_New York Times Book Review_
“[Estep’s] vividly drawn characters and the wit of their interchanges . . . rip through the constraints of the [mystery] genre. I was blown away by the gale force of Estep’s talent.” —Salon.com
“This is a book that burns like brilliance at its zenith.” —Ken Bruen, author of The Dramatist
“Maggie Estep writes like no one else. She is one of my favorite writers, and_ Flamethrower_ might be her best book. Do yourself a favor and read all of her books now.” —Sara Gran, author of Dope and Come Closer
“A tour de force of mystery fiction and a maniacally hilarious black comedy . . . Ruby Murphy is a terrifically flawed protagonist, operating one step ahead of disaster. . . . With Flamethrower, Estep is at the top of her game.” —Jason Starr, author of_ Lights Out_
“It’s always such a joy to enter Maggie Estep’s world, where everyone—dogs, horses, people, and places—is unique, real, and treated with respect, even when they’re completely demented. Ruby Murphy is a great character and I enjoy every minute I spend with her.” —S. J. Rozan, author of Absent Friends
Description:
From Publishers Weekly
When Ruby Murphy—Brooklyn resident, cat whisperer and mad-dash urban bicyclist—notices a human leg in her psychiatrist's fish tank in her third diverting sleuthing adventure (after 2004's Gargantuan), the limb proves to belong to Tobias Ray, the estranged spouse of Dr. Jody Ray, Ruby's coolly professional therapist. Once over the shock, Jody begs Ruby to help hunt for Tobias, an apparent kidnapping victim. But just when Ruby finds the one-legged Tobias, Jody disappears. Meanwhile, Ruby is inexplicably fired from her job at the Coney Island Museum; her live-in boyfriend suddenly needs "space"; and her only loyal friend is Jack Valentine, her beloved horse. Though the plot meanders and takes a tortoise-and-hare nap occasionally, Estep's wry observations, razor-sharp wit and deliciously vivid characters will keep readers turning the pages. (Sept.)
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Review
“Maggie Estep is a writer of a thousand voices. . . . She can get into just about anyone’s head, including the horses who are such strong, individualized characters in this series.” —_New York Times Book Review_
“[Estep’s] vividly drawn characters and the wit of their interchanges . . . rip through the constraints of the [mystery] genre. I was blown away by the gale force of Estep’s talent.” —Salon.com
“This is a book that burns like brilliance at its zenith.” —Ken Bruen, author of The Dramatist
“Maggie Estep writes like no one else. She is one of my favorite writers, and_ Flamethrower_ might be her best book. Do yourself a favor and read all of her books now.” —Sara Gran, author of Dope and Come Closer
“A tour de force of mystery fiction and a maniacally hilarious black comedy . . . Ruby Murphy is a terrifically flawed protagonist, operating one step ahead of disaster. . . . With Flamethrower, Estep is at the top of her game.” —Jason Starr, author of_ Lights Out_
“It’s always such a joy to enter Maggie Estep’s world, where everyone—dogs, horses, people, and places—is unique, real, and treated with respect, even when they’re completely demented. Ruby Murphy is a great character and I enjoy every minute I spend with her.” —S. J. Rozan, author of Absent Friends