Jane Smiley's talent for creating emotionally-gripping tales of family relationships was celebrated when she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for A Thousand Acres. In Duplicate Keys, Smiley displays her flair for creating a haunting mystery. Everyone has keys to Susan's New York apartment: all her friends, and friends of friends. So one afternoon, when Alice unlocks Susan's door to water the plants, she isn't surprised to find two men sitting in the living room. However, that they are both dead is a shock. Now Alice must sort through a tangle of personal connections, schemes and motives to find the key to who killed them and why. As she talks with the police, the answer that starts to nag Alice is a chilling one. Ruth Ann Phimister's narration underscores the finely-phrased atmosphere and suspense.
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"My favorite example of a LITERARY mystery...a crime story that is written intelligently and artfully, rather than choppy like some mysteries/thrillers. Smiley takes the mystery genre and lends her capable hands to it...and churns out a well-plotted and fast-paced mystery." — Cecilia (4 out of 5 stars)
"My favorite example of a LITERARY mystery...a crime story that is written intelligently and artfully, rather than choppy like some mysteries/thrillers. Smiley takes the mystery genre and lends her capable hands to it...and churns out a well-plotted and fast-paced mystery."
" good book..lots of twists and turns... "
" I didn't like the writing style of this book. The plot was mediocre. Now Mom (who recommended it) said she didn't even finish it and asked me who did it. Can you feel me rolling my eyes? "
" OK mystery of sorts. One very suspenseful chapter of a break-in while the protagonist is in bed. At that point, I felt the author pushing all my buttons. "
" This is a wonderful book. I read it soon after it was published, in the 1980s, and recently have re-read it. It is a mystery that pulls the reader into the lives of the characters. "
" A murder mystery where you are bored by the characters and don't give an eff whodunit. Bad news. "
" This book should be a lot better known than it is. It is one of the best descriptions I have ever read of a group of 60s friends - in this case, a band plus attached friends and girlfriends. It is also a wonderful psychological study and creepy mystery. "
" great murder mystry "
" I wanted to like this book. There were parts of it I enjoyed, mostly thought to do with the main character and her daily life, and less to do with the mystery they were facing and the death of her friends. I felt that she was well developed however the rest of the plot was lost on me. "
" a mystery and more: a disquisition on the ideals vs. the realities of friendship, what we perceive, what we contribute, motives and allegiences. The woman can write! "
" Read it years ago, and reread it last week, so I knew "who did it?" Wouldn't have thought about perspective of being the wife of musician. Interesting. "
" Suspenseful and well-plotted. The dialogue dragged, hence the 4 star rating. "
" I can't say I enjoyed this book. Very slow moving and certainly not the type of book I like to read. There is much better of this genre out there! "
" couldn't make it past the first two chapters. unlikeable characters, so who cares? "
" Quick read, vintage Jane Smiley tight prose and character development. Mystery with increasing suspense until the end. "
" Smiley had not yet reached her full abilities at this point. "
" Not my favorite Jane Smiley book...I really did not care for the main character...but the story was interesting. "
" Not her best, but not a bad read. Its dated feel (events occur in the 80s) made me feel strangely nostalgic, but I had trouble relating to the characters. Not a page turner. "
" Une lecture rapide, sans plus. "
" I love Smiley, but this was the wrong book at the wrong time. Also? 1980 was weird. I'm glad I pretty much missed it. "
" RE: _Duplicate Keys_ by Jane Smiley In my notes I wrote: "Jane Smiley reveals deep insights about feelings and relationships, and articulates them with words and similes that clearly illustrate her meaning." "
" Jane Smiley tries out the "creepy" mystery. Entertaining look at the New York Scene, but a bit predictable in the end. "
" This was alright. I like that it was quick, though I feel it could have been reduced to a short story and still been good. Great characterization, not that mysterious, and not to difficult to figure out. Ho hum. "
" A real white knuckle page turner. There's one particularly tense section of this book I was reading when an earthquake hit and I nearly jumped out of my skin. "
" Good, entertaining summer read. Got through it quickly and enjoyed it...Liked that it was set in NYC. "
Jane Smiley is the author of numerous novels, including A Thousand Acres, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, as well of works of nonfiction and books for young adults. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she has also received the PEN Center USA Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature. In 2001 she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Ruth Ann Phimister has appeared off Broadway and in numerous regional productions, including Life with Father with Robert Reed. She has also worked in television, film, and commercial voice-over.
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