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John Marshall Tanner #10
False Conception 1ST Edition Signed
Performing a background check on a prospective surrogate mother for childless tycoons Millicent and Stuart Colbert, detective John Marshall Tanner uncovers terrible secrets when the surrogate disappears two months into her pregnancy.
- GenresMystery
Hardcover
First published November 1, 1994
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23 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Greenleaf
31 books25 followersStephen Greenleaf got a B.A. from Carlton College in 1964 and a J.D. from the University of California at Berkely in 1967. Stephen Greenleaf served in the United States Army from 1967 through 1969, and was also admitted to the California Bar during that period, with subsequent numerous legal positions.
Stephen Greenleaf studied creative writing at the University of Iowa in 1978 and 1979, (the Iowa Writers Workshop) with the subsequent publication of his first Tanner novel in 1979. Mr. Greenleaf has written fourteen John Marshall Tanner books to date, with his latest being Ellipse. All the novels are situated in San Fransico, and Stephen Greenleaf also lives in northern California with his wife Ann.
Series:
* John Marshall Tanner Mystery
Stephen Greenleaf studied creative writing at the University of Iowa in 1978 and 1979, (the Iowa Writers Workshop) with the subsequent publication of his first Tanner novel in 1979. Mr. Greenleaf has written fourteen John Marshall Tanner books to date, with his latest being Ellipse. All the novels are situated in San Fransico, and Stephen Greenleaf also lives in northern California with his wife Ann.
Series:
* John Marshall Tanner Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 13, 2014
There’s something about a really well-written mystery that makes it a real pleasure to read. Such is the case with Stephen Greenleaf’s Tanner novels and False Conception is no exception.
Tanner is hired by his friend, Russell, an attorney, to investigate a surrogate. Seems some very wealthy clients of his, the Colberts, scions of a wealthy fashion empire, who wish to remain completely anonymous, want to implant an embryo in Stuart Colbert’s former secretary (for $100,000). At least that’s the story. It gets complicated because Russell must write up a contract without knowing the the law will be regarding surrogate rights and those of the biological parents. Russell needs Tanner to check out the former secretary without her knowledge and especially without her finding out who the the parents are of the child she will bear. The parents want to make sure no one will ever find out how the conception was brought to fruition, not realizing they are being manipulated by Stuart’s father.
As is axiomatic in Greenleaf and Ross MacDonald, the investigation turns over piles of corruption, hatred, and incest and once the links are connected hidden motives pop to the fore.
The reader is treated to passages such as this, “Because it was his office, Stuart Colbert looked comfortable and self-possessed and bursting with something to say. From the heat in his eyes and the flush to his face, I guessed it wouldn’t be pleasant. He was wiry and small, with an aesthete’s high forehead, a lizard’s bulbous eyes, and a languid smirk that declared he was master of all he surveyed. He struck me as a cold fish—judgmental, sanctimonious, arrogant, didactic—and a trifle jejune underneath. All to be expected, I suppose, given that his only source of early nourishment had come from a silver spoon. “
Excellent. Really hard to put this one down.
Tanner is hired by his friend, Russell, an attorney, to investigate a surrogate. Seems some very wealthy clients of his, the Colberts, scions of a wealthy fashion empire, who wish to remain completely anonymous, want to implant an embryo in Stuart Colbert’s former secretary (for $100,000). At least that’s the story. It gets complicated because Russell must write up a contract without knowing the the law will be regarding surrogate rights and those of the biological parents. Russell needs Tanner to check out the former secretary without her knowledge and especially without her finding out who the the parents are of the child she will bear. The parents want to make sure no one will ever find out how the conception was brought to fruition, not realizing they are being manipulated by Stuart’s father.
As is axiomatic in Greenleaf and Ross MacDonald, the investigation turns over piles of corruption, hatred, and incest and once the links are connected hidden motives pop to the fore.
The reader is treated to passages such as this, “Because it was his office, Stuart Colbert looked comfortable and self-possessed and bursting with something to say. From the heat in his eyes and the flush to his face, I guessed it wouldn’t be pleasant. He was wiry and small, with an aesthete’s high forehead, a lizard’s bulbous eyes, and a languid smirk that declared he was master of all he surveyed. He struck me as a cold fish—judgmental, sanctimonious, arrogant, didactic—and a trifle jejune underneath. All to be expected, I suppose, given that his only source of early nourishment had come from a silver spoon. “
Excellent. Really hard to put this one down.
November 23, 2020
This may be my favorite Tanner book to date. It all just comes together in such a powerful and messed up way. Marsh's personal struggles with love and legacy, the truly weird and horrifying relationships behind the case, and the strong ending, which did not feel contrived or to come way out of left field like some of the others. The case, the characters, it all aligned. But seriously, it's a pretty sick story.
July 9, 2024
This story involves a woman getting pregnant for an upper class couple who could not. Then she disappears. The detective who is involved with this disappearance, talks to many of the people who have been involved with each other through. A number of years. There are affairs. There is a murder. Some of the details of this history seem a bit strange to me, and it is difficult to untangle what has happened. A surprise ending is probably supposed to be funny, but not so much.
October 23, 2019
Another great one. His description of the emotion and struggles of Tanner are priceless . The legal ethical and moral conundrums are breathtaking
March 7, 2024
Started very slow..however I did enjoy his writing style. Many interesting plot twists with the biggest plot twist at the end.
April 28, 2015
Our detective hero is sent out on a mysterious assignment by his employer, a lawyer, to look into the background of a woman chosen to be the surrogate of his wealthy clients' child. Before he knows it, the case is taking him down the tangled path of a wealthy California Family's long-buried secrets and betrayals, including a decades-old death that may or may not have been a murder.
If what I'm describing sounds like the plot of a Ross Macdonald novel, there's a good reason: Clearly, Greenleaf has sought to emulate MacDonald the way MacDonald emulated Chandler. Of course, Tanner isn't *exactly* a carbon copy of Lew Archer. For one thing, we learn a heck a lot more about Tanner's background and private life than Archer. For example, Tanner has a girlfriend who's a teacher. Sensing her biological clock ticking, she wants Tanner to have a child with her. Unfortunately, the only tension this subplot adds to the proceedings is the threat that the couple will ultimately succeed in bringing a child into the world who's as boring as their relationship is.
Also, Greenleaf isn't quite the master wordsmith Macdonald was. He's particularly cringe-worthy when he's trying to portray blue collar speakers. For example, somebody in here uses the word "cockamamie." People in 1994 just didn't talk like that anymore, particularly people of the age and background of the character who utters the word.
If what I'm describing sounds like the plot of a Ross Macdonald novel, there's a good reason: Clearly, Greenleaf has sought to emulate MacDonald the way MacDonald emulated Chandler. Of course, Tanner isn't *exactly* a carbon copy of Lew Archer. For one thing, we learn a heck a lot more about Tanner's background and private life than Archer. For example, Tanner has a girlfriend who's a teacher. Sensing her biological clock ticking, she wants Tanner to have a child with her. Unfortunately, the only tension this subplot adds to the proceedings is the threat that the couple will ultimately succeed in bringing a child into the world who's as boring as their relationship is.
Also, Greenleaf isn't quite the master wordsmith Macdonald was. He's particularly cringe-worthy when he's trying to portray blue collar speakers. For example, somebody in here uses the word "cockamamie." People in 1994 just didn't talk like that anymore, particularly people of the age and background of the character who utters the word.
September 28, 2020
I love this series just as much now as I did in the 90's. I wish wish wish Stephen Greenleaf was still writing. He so knows how to turn a phrase. Nice that this one was set in Seattle.
It's an interesting quandary, as lead character John Marshall Tanner often has to aid women thru horrific situations around sexuality. I do find myself some times uncomfortable with the depiction of these situations - and ask if there's a way to tell the story without showing them so vividly. A thought. But I still read these books as the writing is so good, and JMT is such a great character.
It's an interesting quandary, as lead character John Marshall Tanner often has to aid women thru horrific situations around sexuality. I do find myself some times uncomfortable with the depiction of these situations - and ask if there's a way to tell the story without showing them so vividly. A thought. But I still read these books as the writing is so good, and JMT is such a great character.
June 1, 2011
Because I read this so long ago, I cannot remember any details. What I noted was that it was the first John Marshall Tanner mystery that I have read, it was a good book, and I would get more.
September 19, 2011
I read this a long time ago but noted that it was complicated and convoluted. I was not thrilled with it and don't remember if I read any more by him.
January 7, 2014
Greenleaf writes in the first-person California private eye tradition of Chandler and Ross Macdonald, but his private eye, Marsh Tanner, is a chattier character.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews