Jordan Bingham and Tyler “Smiley” Dekker are on holiday together in San Francisco; Jordan has been ordered by her employer to find a copy of a Dashiell Hammett novel and Smiley is back in touch with his grandmother, from whom he was forcibly estranged by his parents when he was young and who now lives in a lovely Victorian house in San Francisco. They plan to just have fun in the City By the Bay, but others have other plans in mind, including burglary, threats and, perhaps, murder…. I read the earlier four novels in the Book Collector Mystery series quite a few years ago and then forgot about them for some time - not because I didn’t like them, because I did, but simply because I had so much else to read. However, I finally ran across this, the fifth book in the series, published in 2016, and I was pleased to be reacquainted with Jordan and her family; although most of her uncles are back home in small-town New York, we at least run into Uncle Kevin who mysteriously appears in San Francisco, and of course her family ties are of the utmost help in fulfilling her duty. It is Tyler’s grandmother and his relationship to her that are at the heart of the story, however, and the mystery to be solved takes more or less a back seat until close to the end of the novel. Having lived in San Francisco for over 15 years, I enjoyed pinpointing some of the places described in the book, but overall it was just the lightness and near-absurdity of the story that I liked the most. I don’t think there are any more books in this series, at least not yet, but it was very pleasant to spend some time with Jordan once again; recommended. ( )

Jordan Bingham convinces her employer that a trip to San Francisco for her vacation can also be an opportunity for her to acquire Dashiell Hammett’s Red Harvest for her collection. Jordan flies off to San Francisco with her boyfriend Tyler Dekker where he informs her that he has been contacted by his grandmother whom he hasn't seen since he was a little boy. Unbeknownst to Jordan and Tyler, relations both his and hers will cause them a few unsettled days on their vacation to the Golden Gate.

I loved seeing Jordan without her "wicked" relatives for a change because Tyler found enough to cover that category. A fun mystery, a little romance but sad that apparently this is the end of the series. ( )

For the fifth book in the Book Collector series, things are shaken up. Book researcher Jordan Bingham and her cop boyfriend Tyler Dekker are in San Francisco for a romantic holiday getaway. While they’re there, Jordan’s employer, Vera Van Alst, insists that Jordan get a signed first edition of Dashiell Hammett’s Red Harvest. But then life starts imitating Hammett’s art, with Jordan and Tyler being targeted by criminals who don’t particularly care about eliminating obstacles to…whatever it is they’re trying to get.

This was an interesting gamble for the series, particularly to take the characters out of their comfort zone and to incorporate more hardboiled elements than the earlier books in the series, which focused on the authors of cozier mysteries. And of course by reading this book I wanted to read all of Hammett’s books (and reread The Thin Man). And mercifully there was much less mention of Uncle Mick’s chest hair. I did find the constant retelling and summarizing to be a bit repetitive, as though this book was intended to be picked up and put down rather than gobbled up in a few short sittings (as one would expect to do with this size of book).

I’m not sure whether the series will continue, but if it doesn’t, this would be a good point for it to end on. ( )

In a mystery filled with lovely San Francisco ambiance (especially if you love climbing hills), the writing team known as Victoria Abbott has hit another one out of the ballpark. Besides that setting, there's plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor, narrow escapes, and an excellent whodunit that takes time for readers to put all the pieces in the proper places. The bonus is-- like with the other books in the series-- The Hammett Hex is brushed with a bit of fairy dust reminiscent of the crime fiction great mentioned in the title. (We've already been graced with Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Rex Stout, and Ngaio Marsh.)

One thing that I particularly enjoyed, although other readers might not, is the absence of some of the secondary characters. Don't get me wrong, Vera Van Alst, Signora Panetone, and Jordan's Kelly relatives are wonderful characters, but they can be overwhelming and have the tendency to elbow their way into the action. It was nice to see how Jordan can handle herself without her usual backup, and now that I've had a little break from curmudgeons, cooks who specialize in ambrosia, and crooks with hearts of gold, I'm raring to see them again.

Quite simply, I love Victoria Abbott's Book Collector mysteries with a passion, and if the series ever ends, I will pout so hard that I'll trip over my lower lip. Haven't met Jordan and the gang? You have to do something about that, quick! ( )

I like this series. Jordan and her policemen boyfriend, Smiley, head to San Francisco for a little vacation time together. While there Jordan was going to look for a first edition of a Dashell Hammett book and Smiley wanted to get together with his estranged Grandmother. The first night they are nearly run down by a Prius, then lots of other close calls start happening. Lots of intrigue, escapes, breaking and entering and strange encounters before it's all resolved. ( )