- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (Jan 20 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0312383398
- ISBN-13: 978-0312383398
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14.9 x 2.7 cm
- Shipping Weight: 386 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #92,549 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
Quill & Quire
Imagine that Sam Spade’s secretary had to solve the mystery of the Maltese Falcon because Spade was too drunk to leave the office and you have the basic conceit of B.C. author Linda L. Richards’ series of mysteries. Richards, co-founder and editor of January magazine, already has one Arthur Ellis Award nomination under her belt, and with any justice, Death Was in the Picure will earn her another. Times have been tough for the novel’s young narrator, Kitty Pangborn, secretary to one Dexter J. Theroux, private investigator. While it’s not always glamorous working for a P.I. with more bill notices than payments, in 1930s California a job is a job. Enter screen star Laird Wyndham, who was the last man seen with a starlet who died under suspicious circumstances. Wyndham’s lawyer hires Dex to exonerate his client, but there’s a slight problem: the gumshoe is already in the employ of someone who wants him to prove the actor’s guilt. Richards effortlessly captures both the feel and lingo of a pulp classic. The banter between Kitty and Dex is ripe with an intimacy and familiarity that is deeply layered and honest. Kitty wants Dex to see her as a woman, not a girl, yet despite her own physical attraction to her employer, she doesn’t seriously want his attentions. Instead of a pistol-slinging femme fatale, Richards gives the reader a bright and capable woman, a heroine who – refreshingly – operates within the societal constraints of her time rather than anachronistically flouting them. So holster your roscoe and make with the lettuce: Death Was in the Picture isn’t a book to miss.
Review
Praise for Death Was the Other Woman:
“For something really snappy---a dandy, old-school, hard-boiled detective story, told from the point of view of a tough PI’s equally tough secretary---go no further than Linda L. Richards’s Death Was the Other Woman.” --Seattle Times
“Richards’s spot-on portrayal of 1930s California---the tumultuous social and political atmosphere, the fashions, the vernacular---make this a must-read for palookas, mooks, and twists with enough spondulix to spare for some rip-roaring, hard-boiled literary escapism.” --The Chicago Tribune
“Honoring the noir tradition while turning it on its head, Richards’s richly detailed period portrays a world in which lifestyles, whether high or low, become an elaborate defense against a harsh environment in which there is only one final act, and the trick is to determine the time the curtain falls.” --Booklist
“This is a great period piece with action aplenty and nostalgia-evoking characters. Kitty is a delight, and fans of Megan Abbott’s noir crime novels will enjoy it.” --Library Journal
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kitty Can Cut the Mustard,
By
This review is from: Death Was in the Picture: A Mystery (Hardcover)
It's 1931, and only Hollywood films are putting a smile on the face of the weary American people. Perky Girl-Friday Kitty Pangborn (memories of Franklin P)and her PI boss, heavy-drinking Dexter Theroux, become embroiled in a murder involving leading man Laird Wyndham. Together they make the rounds of high-flying parties and low-flying speakeasies where Prohibition is merely a word. Richards has her research filed to the tip of a French nail. Kitty is your favourite sister, your best friend, and a super secretary rolled into one. The devil's always in the details, and this canvas is spot on for atmosphere, snappy slang, and the occasional fedora. The scene where a land shark caught off the pier masquerades as kippers thanks to a dollop of smoky flavouring nearly brought tears to my eyes. More adventures, Kitty, and yes, you can bring along your boss.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.6 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews) 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Kitty's hot on the trail,
By VCQ - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Death Was in the Picture: A Mystery (Hardcover)
Kitty Pangborn, shamus's assistant to Dex Theroux (Death Was the Other Woman: A Mystery), gets to meet the man of her silver screen dreams while on a case: Hollywood leading man Laird Wyndham is accused of murder, and it's up to Kitty, Dex, and Mustard (their driver and "procurement" specialist) to get to the bottom of the accusations. Kitty finds it hard to distance herself professionally; she's terminally star-struck at meeting Laird in person, so much so that she forgets to take notes (she's seen every film he starred in). But Kitty and Dex quickly dig up some unsavory truths on Laird's offscreen persona; an estranged wife, a jilted lover and several employees paint a less-than-glowing picture of a man with a hot temper and lusty appetites that know no boundaries.The behind-the-scenes views of the 1930s-era film studios (and Production Code politics) are fascinating, and there's a moment of sheer comedic genius as Kitty goes undercover as an extra in a futuristic sci-fi film. Depression- and Prohibition-era LA play less of a starring role in "Death Was In The Picture," although architecture is still described in detail, and there are frequent mentions of Okies and the down-and-out. Kitty's own domestic life is largely absent, other than Marjorie's attempts to create dishes out of unappetizing substitutes when cash is low. She has her moment to shine in a designer Jean Patou silk beaded dress at a swank party, and does a lot of detective work trying to sniff out the truth behind Laird Wyndham and the sinister Xander Dean. Richards' novel is full of film noir touches and 1930s jargon that make it a pleasure to read. If you enjoyed "Death Was In the Picture," you might also want to check out Ghost of a Chance: A Marjorie McClelland Mystery, The War Against Miss Winter, This Dame for Hire: A Novel and Too Darn Hot. 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Silver Screen,
By Ted Feit - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Death Was in the Picture: A Mystery (Hardcover)
Set in glamorous Hollywood deep in the Great Depression Era, just after the 1929 crash, this old-fashioned detective novel is the second featuring PI Dexter Theroux and his secretary-Girl Friday, Katherine (Kitty) Pangborn. Initially, Dex is retained to follow and observe a movie star. The target is arrested for the murder of a woman at the party at which Dex is observing him.And in a twist, Dex drops the original client and now represents the movie star who hires him to find the real murderer. There are vivid descriptions of life during the Depression years, with shortages of money and food, as well as observations and background on the movie industry. The author includes a couple of things this reader never knew, i.e., Los Angeles had a subway system in 1931, and while the infamous Hays Office was established with the help of the studios, it was ignored until strong-arm tactics forced compliance. The plot is well-told and -written, and lovers of the genre will not be disappointed. 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
fine 1930s whodunit,
By Harriet Klausner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Death Was in the Picture: A Mystery (Hardcover)
In 1931 Hollywood secretary Kitty Pangborn continues to work for dissolute private investigator Dex Theroux even though she stepped into all sorts of trouble (see DEATH WAS THE OTHER WOMAN) while her employer spent time toasting the J brothers (Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Jose Cuervo). She is grateful that Dex is clean and sober when a paying client arrives. He says he represents interested nameless concerned citizens who want to hire him to conduct surveillance of movie star Laird Wyndham, as they think his morality is dubious at best.Although he has doubts about the surveillance, he needs the money so accepts the case. However, his gut instincts prove right when the police arrest Laird charging him with murder. Desperate to clear his reputation, Wyndham hires Dex to find the real killer. The latest Dex-Kitty Depression Era Hollywood investigative thriller is a superb period piece. Once again Kitty does yeoman work to keep Dex away from the J crowd. Dex is at his best in a one thing leads to another scenario with his gut constantly telling him to drop the case and turn to alcohol to numb the feelings of being a loser. Historical mystery fans will enjoy this fine 1930s whodunit as well as the previous Panghorn-Theroux case (see DEATH WAS THE OTHER WOMAN). Harriet Klausner |
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
