The Pink Flamingo Murders (1999) - Plot & Excerpts
#3 in the Francesca Vierling series. Author Viets dedicated the latest entry in her Mystery Shopper series to her grandmother, Frances Vierling, so we know where our protagonist's name came from. Once again, Viets' love and knowledge of St. Louis comes through and makes the rudimentary mystery secondary. Although some of the characters are one-dimensional, this novel is recommended for those who enjoy a story with a strong sense of place.Francesca Vierling series - Francesca Vierling depends on tips from loyal readers to feed her ideas for her columns. So she is eager to follow up on a phone call from Margie, a fellow South City resident who invites her to observe "forking," (sticking hundreds of plastic forks into a lawn). When Francesca arrives at Margie's house on North Dakota Place to witness this spectacle, she realizes she is in the midst of serious rehabbers -- hardy pioneers who buy run-down old homes so they can restore them to their former grandeur. While Margie and her two friends are busy forking a neighbor's lawn as a practical joke, Francesca meets Caroline, the Queen Bee of the rehabbers. Caroline's tireless efforts and strong personality have helped revitalize North Dakota Place. However, some of the neighbors have protested that she is too controlling. When an old man who was painting his house purple in defiance of Caroline is electrocuted, Francesca wonders if his death is truly an accident. Suddenly death becomes almost a daily occurrence on North Dakota Place. Francesca is sure she knows the link between the murder victims, but the police won't listen to her theory. Then the identity of the fourth murder victim invalidates Francesca's suspicions. She now has to re-think her theory before North Dakota Place becomes a ghost town. In the meantime, she is also attempting to preserve her work life and her love life. The Gazette is populated by clueless editors and backstabbing co-workers, while her marriage-minded boyfriend won't take no for an answer.
I love a main character with flaws that are common to so many of us. Francesca Vierling is a newspaper columnist who says what she thinks in her column (which her readers love) and in real iife (which gets her into trouble at work and at home). Don't we all wish we had the courage to voice our opinions out loud? We typically don't because we want to avoid the negative consequences-this is not Francesca's style. Set in St. Louis, she explains to her readers the fun indiosyncrasies that make St. Louis St. Louis.Francesca's downtown neighborhood with its diverse personalities suddenly becomes a gathering place for emergency responders - four murders in a very short span. None of them seem to have anything in common except for their murder location. Francesca becomes part of the investigation to bring an end to her neighbors being killed. She does this while trying to work on her relationship with Lyle, handle massive, negative changes in the newsroom and dealing with a crazy fan.I love Elaine Viet's ability to incorporate her St. Louis roots into her mysteries. For those who live in or are familiar with St. Louis, this is another great book and fun read. For those who are unfamiliar with St. Louis, you will be prepared for your visit after reading Viet's St. Louis-based books.
What do You think about The Pink Flamingo Murders (1999)?
