- Hardcover: 272 pages
- Publisher: Forge Books; First Edition edition (Dec 8 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0765315769
- ISBN-13: 978-0765315762
- Product Dimensions: 21.5 x 16.8 x 2.4 cm
- Shipping Weight: 363 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #590,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Product Description
The second wacky comedic murder romp for Hollywood film detective Valentino
Valentino wants to keep The Oracle, his beloved run-down movie palace, from being condemned before it even reopens, but murder keeps intruding into his otherwise quiet life. At a gala party held in memory of screen legend Greta Garbo, he’s having fun until the host, a hotshot developer named Matthew Rankin, tells Valentino about a certain letter from Garbo to his late wife. She and Garbo had been…close.
Such a letter is of great interest to a film archivist like Valentino, but the the plot thickens when Rankin tells Val that his assistant, Akers, is using this letter to blackmail him. Val is appalled by the thought of blackmail…but that letter sounds juicier all the time. Returning to Rankin’s mansion after the party, Val finds Rankin sitting at his desk with a pistol in his hand, looking at Akers’s dead body on the floor.
Valentino’s in a quandary. He’d love to see that letter, but he can’t. He’s gotten his girlfriend—who works for the police—in trouble, so his love life is, pardon the expression, shot to hell. Worse yet, the building inspector has kicked him out of his unfinished living space in the Oracle, so he takes his life in his hands and moves in with his eccentric mentor, the elderly, insomniac Professor Broadhead. No love, no sleep, no letter—life isn’t fair!
Valentino wants to keep The Oracle, his beloved run-down movie palace, from being condemned before it even reopens, but murder keeps intruding into his otherwise quiet life. At a gala party held in memory of screen legend Greta Garbo, he’s having fun until the host, a hotshot developer named Matthew Rankin, tells Valentino about a certain letter from Garbo to his late wife. She and Garbo had been…close.
Such a letter is of great interest to a film archivist like Valentino, but the the plot thickens when Rankin tells Val that his assistant, Akers, is using this letter to blackmail him. Val is appalled by the thought of blackmail…but that letter sounds juicier all the time. Returning to Rankin’s mansion after the party, Val finds Rankin sitting at his desk with a pistol in his hand, looking at Akers’s dead body on the floor.
Valentino’s in a quandary. He’d love to see that letter, but he can’t. He’s gotten his girlfriend—who works for the police—in trouble, so his love life is, pardon the expression, shot to hell. Worse yet, the building inspector has kicked him out of his unfinished living space in the Oracle, so he takes his life in his hands and moves in with his eccentric mentor, the elderly, insomniac Professor Broadhead. No love, no sleep, no letter—life isn’t fair!
About the Author
LOREN D. ESTLEMAN has written more than sixty novels, including Frames, Gas City, and American Detective. His work has earned him four Shamus Awards, five Spur Awards, and three Western Heritage Awards. He lives in Michigan with his wife, author Deborah Morgan.
Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hollywood Goofiness, Odeon Restoration, Movie History, Film Preservation, Garbo, Murder, Detection, Romance, and Humor,
By Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (#1 HALL OF FAME)
This review is from: Alone (Hardcover)
"Now when evening came, He was alone there." -- Matthew 14:23 Don't start this series with Alone: Go back and read Frames first, the initial book in the Valentino series. I'm a big fan of Loren D. Estleman and picked up a copy of Alone on the strength of that liking. Utterly charmed by the story, I pulled my reading temporarily to a halt mid-way through and headed out to find Frames. The back story for Alone seemed just too good to be true. I had to find out more. I'm sure glad that I did. I won't share any details. That will rob the story of its charm. Mr. Estleman can tell Valentino's story much better than I can hope to do. If you are looking for an action thriller with a hard-boiled detective in a noir style, Alone won't appeal to you. But if you have a fondness for Hollywood, the history of the movies, the silent movie era, and a romantic mystery filled with outrageously good humor, Alone will charm you for sure. On the surface, Alone can feel like fluff . . . but beneath the almost self-satirical humor lies a delightful plot, a gag environment, and a Keystone Kops-like approach to detection that fits closer to Stephanie Plum than to Sherlock Holmes. Be warned that the murder mystery is simply there to move the plot along. If you like difficult whodunits, this book also isn't for you. To me, the humorous mystery is the most difficult kind of book to write. Mr. Estleman carries it off like the pro that he is. He's having so much fun with this story that you cannot help but smile at the plot and in his obvious pleasure in writing the book. If you have ever been hassled by a building inspector, you'll especially like this book. Bravo!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.1 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews) 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hollywood Goofiness, Odeon Restoration, Movie History, Film Preservation, Garbo, Murder, Detection, Romance, and Humor,
By Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Alone (Hardcover)
"Now when evening came, He was alone there." -- Matthew 14:23
Don't start this series with Alone: Go back and read Frames first, the initial book in the Valentino series. I'm a big fan of Loren D. Estleman and picked up a copy of Alone on the strength of that liking. Utterly charmed by the story, I pulled my reading temporarily to a halt mid-way through and headed out to find Frames. The back story for Alone seemed just too good to be true. I had to find out more. I'm sure glad that I did. I won't share any details. That will rob the story of its charm. Mr. Estleman can tell Valentino's story much better than I can hope to do. If you are looking for an action thriller with a hard-boiled detective in a noir style, Alone won't appeal to you. But if you have a fondness for Hollywood, the history of the movies, the silent movie era, and a romantic mystery filled with outrageously good humor, Alone will charm you for sure. On the surface, Alone can feel like fluff . . . but beneath the almost self-satirical humor lies a delightful plot, a gag environment, and a Keystone Kops-like approach to detection that fits closer to Stephanie Plum than to Sherlock Holmes. Be warned that the murder mystery is simply there to move the plot along. If you like difficult whodunits, this book also isn't for you. To me, the humorous mystery is the most difficult kind of book to write. Mr. Estleman carries it off like the pro that he is. He's having so much fun with this story that you cannot help but smile at the plot and in his obvious pleasure in writing the book. If you have ever been hassled by a building inspector, you'll especially like this book. Bravo!
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Combination is Unbeatable,
By John H. Eckert "rockyeckert" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Alone (Hardcover)
Loren Estleman and Valentino are a combination that cannot be beat. The only tie would be with Robert B. Parker and Spenser. Keep them coming!
4.0 out of 5 stars
An entertaining mystery for film buffs.,
By Rob Mattheu - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Alone (Hardcover)
Valentino is a film detective, a man that tracks down rare and historic films to be preserved and restored. Matthew Rankin is a developer who has a complete copy of a Greta Garbo's rare first film, a commercial entitled "How Not To Dress". When Rankin shoots his assistant dead, he brings Valentino in to explain why he did it. It seems the assistant has blackmailed him with a letter claiming that Garbo and his late wife had a lesbian affair and then became violent, so Rankin shot him. In exchange for Valentino being a witness who can clear his clearing his name, Rankin offers Valentino Garbo's first film.
Like all good mysteries, all is not how it seems, however, and the rest of the book has Valentino fighting with his best friend, his girlfriend, a corrupt building inspector that is keeping him from completing work on his lifelong dream of owning a theater, and a dogged detective who hates people of privilege and believes Rankin actually committed a murder in cold blood, not self defense. Loren Estleman has crafted an entertaining book that is a must for lovers of film history. The book is not a suspenseful page turner, but the light and breezy tone, well crafted characters, and Estleman's obvious love of the subject matter will keep readers turning pages. |
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