In a case involving Nazi spies, stumblebum character actors trying to be tough, and top-secret bomber plans, Hollywood private eye Toby Peters is hired to protect Bette Davis from a threatened kidnapping. 15,000 first printing.
The Devil Met a Lady
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From Kirkus Reviews
Another pleasantly foolish outing for Toby Peters (The Melting Clock, 1991, etc.), shamus to Hollywood's Golden Age stars. The client this time (1943) is Bette Davis's husband Arthur Farnsworth, whose aeronautical research on a modified bombsight has brought him to the attention of a gang that wants to swap the plans for an old sound-recording that Toby would rather forget--a record of how Davis's first husband, Ham Nelson, blackmailed Howard Hughes over a little performance coaching she gave him--and threatens to kidnap the star if Farnsworth won't play ball. The byplay between Toby and Davis, who stops recycling dialogue from her movies only long enough to get snatched three times, is the high point here; better pass over the mystery in silence. Bright and insubstantial as a meringue. Not the best in this waggish, venerable series. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Review
"San Diego Union-Tribune" Shades of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. If you think Stuart Kaminsky doesn't have a feeling for the best of both authors, you are in for a surprise.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Judging from the number of used copies of this book on sale for just pennies, other readers shared similar reactions: That they found The Devil Met A Lady to be quite a disappointment. Kaminsky continues the (dubious) trend of casting historical figures in fictional adventures by building a mystery, involving wartime espionage, around an attempt to blackmail Bette Davis. But the character that emerges is more that of a dull drag queen doing Davis than of the Fourth Warner Brother. And the sleuth, Toby Peters, solves cases with the help of a vaudevillian network of friends and acquaintances like fortune-tellers, little people and, well, BIG people. The plotting is pretty last ditch, with coincidences aplenty and saviors unexpectedly turning up where it's unlikely they'd be (the "mystery" proves little more than an afterthought). And while a light tone is one thing, The Devil Met A Lady -- the title's a play on the 1936 Davis version of The Maltese Falcon, Satan Met A Lady -- lacks the edge and precision to be a campy romp.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.3 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
A promising premise disappointingly realized
Jun 18 2003
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Judging from the number of used copies of this book on sale for just pennies, other readers shared similar reactions: That they found The Devil Met A Lady to be quite a disappointment. Kaminsky continues the (dubious) trend of casting historical figures in fictional adventures by building a mystery, involving wartime espionage, around an attempt to blackmail Bette Davis. But the character that emerges is more that of a dull drag queen doing Davis than of the Fourth Warner Brother. And the sleuth, Toby Peters, solves cases with the help of a vaudevillian network of friends and acquaintances like fortune-tellers, little people and, well, BIG people. The plotting is pretty last ditch, with coincidences aplenty and saviors unexpectedly turning up where it's unlikely they'd be (the "mystery" proves little more than an afterthought). And while a light tone is one thing, The Devil Met A Lady -- the title's a play on the 1936 Davis version of The Maltese Falcon, Satan Met A Lady -- lacks the edge and precision to be a campy romp.
4.0 out of 5 stars
I miss Stuart Kaminisky
Sep 30 2012
By Shoe-aholic
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
When I discovered the Toby Peters series, I fell in love. The not-too-debonair wartime private eye delivered the goods throughout the entertaining (but at times formulaic)series. When we last saw Toby, he was teaming up with brother Phil for a new detective agency. Kaminsky's death robbed us of this and much more.
As far as "The Devil Met A Lady", I enjoyed the audio book. The Peters' series makes for great audio. It is almost like listening to the radio during it's dramatic heyday.
As far as "The Devil Met A Lady", I enjoyed the audio book. The Peters' series makes for great audio. It is almost like listening to the radio during it's dramatic heyday.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Toby Peters meets Betti Davis
Jun 20 2010
By Nash Black
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
The late Stuart M. Kaminsky took his love of film and mystery to Hollywood when he created the Toby Peters series. THE DEVIL METS A LADY may have been written to fulfill a contract because it doesn't have the pace of others in the series.
Toby is called upon to protect Miss Davis by her husband and to also locate a recording an associate made of Miss D., a lover and her then husband.
The existence of the recording is a threat to her career and the Nazi's want the plans to a gun mount her current husband is designing.
A sleazy hotel is their hiding place, but the bad guys seem to know their every move.
Nash Black, author of QUALIFYING LAPS.
Toby is called upon to protect Miss Davis by her husband and to also locate a recording an associate made of Miss D., a lover and her then husband.
The existence of the recording is a threat to her career and the Nazi's want the plans to a gun mount her current husband is designing.
A sleazy hotel is their hiding place, but the bad guys seem to know their every move.
Nash Black, author of QUALIFYING LAPS.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 3 reviews
3.3 out of 5 stars
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