Breakaway Books

Authored by Marcia Muller; Published 1977; Mystery

⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🏖️

Edwin of the Iron Shoes has to be one of the earlier mysteries featuring a non-detective inserting themselves into an investigation. A private eye isn’t too outside the norm as a hero, but Sharon McCone needs to make an effort to get in on the case.

In Edwin of the Iron Shoes, law firm investigator Sharon McCone is shocked and saddened by the death of local antique dealer Joan. McCone had gotten to know Joan through her investigation of vandalism and arson that had been committed in her neighborhood, but she never dreamed it would escalate into murder. As Sharon works her way into investigating this case, she discovers a web of shady art and real estate dealings—and that Joan herself wasn’t completely innocent. Somehow it isn’t all that surprising when Sharon finds herself in danger thanks to her investigation. 

For a novel set in the 1970s, Sharon McCone is a pretty liberated private investigator. Don’t get me wrong: I could still tell this was the 1970s between the casual racism related to Sharon’s American Indian heritage and the equally casual sexism. But Sharon knows her own mind: She is ready for the danger that comes with his occupation and has pushed herself to get to the career that she loves. She’s spunky, and she runs her own show; she’s no fainting damsel waiting for rescue. I can’t quite agree with her romantic choices—in fact, Sharon’s relationship with her love interest in this novel makes zero sense to me. But, perhaps my 2026 mind isn’t quite attuned with the cultural mores of the time.

The mystery itself has a great premise: Of course Joan’s antique store is brimming with reasons to commit murder–it’s a shop full of valuable possessions taken (legally or otherwise) from their rightful owners. We watch Sharon learn a little bit about the antique trade and dive into the shady dealings that surround it, but I do think the author could have leaned in more to the possibilities of the premise. I like the art smuggling angle, especially for the international touch it gives to a story that is otherwise firmly rooted in San Francisco. The local angle, though, is intriguing and surprisingly still rings true, with the controversy surrounding the sky high prices of property and the rancor it causes, both in the novel and today.  

Reading Edwin of the Iron Shoes is a little like hopping into a time machine, but the mystery at its core is still solid. If a 70s vibe is what you’re looking for, this will fit the bill.