Pleasant Grove Murders, The- Jack Vance mystery novel, book review

Pleasant Grove Murders, The- Jack Vance mystery novel

AKA: Joe Bain 2

The Pleasant Grove Murders is a 184 page mystery novel that was written in 1965 and first published in 1967 by John Holbrook Vance. This is the real name of the famous and remarkably talented science fiction/fantasy writer, Jack Vance.  The book is available in a very nice Spatterlight Press paperback and in hardover under the title of Desperate Days: Selected Mysteries Volume Two by Subterranean Press.  Desperate Days also includes two other Vance mystery novels The Fox Valley Murders and The Deadly isles. 

The setting is in a fictitious setting "a few hours drive south east of San Francisco," named Pleasant Grove in San Rodrigo County.  There is an emphasis on creating the atmosphere of a small, rural town with odd or unusual characters who know everything about each other.  And, of course, there is a murder and investigation by our honest, down home, local sheriff, Joe Bain.

Bain's wife deserted him and their daughter, Miranda, fifteen years ago to run off with a cowboy guitar player.  He lives in a small, rather run down house with his daughter and mother who both encourage him to move to a better neighborhood.  Although he is not a brilliant detective or an idealized or heroic character, Joe is competent, honest and persistent at his job.  He is not above having a beer or two with people while he is on duty and even develops a romantic interest in a woman he meets during an investigation.  At one point he comes out on the bottom in a scuffle with a young man who is bothering his daughter.  Joe also frequently worries about being re-elected even though his salary is pitifully low.  When he performs a good dead, such as helping a woman with a flat tire, he is not above thinking that he might have earned an extra vote or two in the next election by doing so.  Joe is a very down to earth and sympathetic character so when things go wrong or when he is hounded by a critical news reporter, Howard Griselda, we naturally root for Joe.  And Joe can use all the rooting he can get because he seems over his head in a murder investigation that appears to be growing increasingly out of control.  Joe even begins to wonder if he isn't the "meathead" that Griselda suggests he is.

Our story actually begins seven years previously when two rich kids object to a tree house a poor kid, Bill Whipple, made on their extensive, forested property.  This early incident with the tree house introduces some of the characters and later ties back into the storyline.  Seven years later a mail delivery person (Ken) is found bludgeoned to death by a hammer in a well to do Pleasant Grove neighborhood.  None of the mail was stolen or tampered with but a Life magazine with the address label removed was mysteriously placed under Ken's head after he was killed.  Also, he was found in his parked mail truck but the truck apparently had not been parked there until the morning after the death.  So it appears that the mail truck was stored somewhere else overnight.  It also seems likely that the killer dressed in Ken's postal clothes and delivered some of the mail so that nobody would know which house he last visited when he was murdered.  Of course all the neighborhood near the incident of the murder are highly suspect but no motive can be determined and evidence does not point to anybody in particular.  One of the main questions is whether Ken was killed for personal reasons or because of the mail he was delivering.

While investigating the murder with help from his deputies, the postal service and local citizens, Joe has other events to deal with.  A Swiss farm hand who climbs up a silo and begins shooting at people with a .22 rifle.  A woman complains that she was pelted clods of dirt by unseen persons while she worked in her garden.  A tool shed is reported to have been broken into and the owner brings in photos of the broken hinges as evidence.  A resident complains in a memorandum to Joe that his neighbor has trays of water in her yard that are a breeding grounds for mosquitoes.  It turns out that this is a local woman, Luna, who claims to be on a mission from the alien planet of Arthemisia.  She has large trays of water in her yard so she can communicate with her thought rays with those on her home planet.  Joe finds her attractive.  Joe also finds attractive an old roadhouse bar and motel that is for sale and tries to purchase it without the owner knowing who the buyer is.  And there the local newspaper owner and reporter, Howard Griselda, who tries to make Joe appear to be incompetent.  Griselda gave Joe a hard time in The Fox River Murders novel and seems now to be even more vengeful and biased with his questions and news articles.  But Joe is not above using unseemly tactics himself to defend himself from the invective reporter.  Joe is also fond of beer, Scotch and pinot noir.

Vance's humor is generously distributed throughout this mystery, and we see some of his gift for creating interesting dialog, for vividly describing details of times, people and places and for fleshing out eccentric characters.  Overall the narration is good if not as dazzling as Vance could be.  And, although the plot is rather straightforward, it is not very predictable and the story is quite appealing and has its charm.  The time and setting are fascinating and small town class distinctions are a crucial theme.  For the general reader and those who like Vance's writing style, this novel is highly recommended and should provide an easy and enjoyable reading.  If this novel appeals to you be sure to check out Vance's earlier The Fox River Murders and his unfinished but still interesting The Genesee Slough Murders.  It is interesting to compare these works and helpful to reread them.  This is the third time I have read The Pleasant Grove Murders and I’ve liked it even better upon rereading it.  Rated 4 "really liked it."