Fly Me To the Morgue

Rat Pack Mysteries #6

by Robert J. Randisi

The new Rat Pack mystery - Bing Crosby wants to buy a horse to indulge his other passion – when he’s not playing golf with Bob Hope, that is. But when his trainer fails to show up in Vegas, and when he finds the horse’s owner dead, problems begin to mount up. Time for Eddie G and Jerry to come to the rescue, urged on by Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, in town to watch the start of Frank Junior’s career. But soon the body count – and temperature – starts to rise . . .

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction

185 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Robert Joseph Randisi was a prolific American author, editor, and screenwriter, best known for his work in detective and Western fiction. He wrote over 650 books, including The Gunsmith series under the pen name J.R. Roberts, and edited more than 30 anthologies. A co-founder of Mystery Scene magazine, the American Crime Writers League, and Western Fictioneers, he also established The Private Eye Writers of America and created the Shamus Award. Randisi collaborated on novels with Eileen Davidson and Vince Van Patten, and created memorable characters such as Miles Jacoby, Joe Keough, and The Rat Pack. He received multiple lifetime achievement awards and the John Seigenthaler Humanitarian Award.

Reviews

[C.A.]

The series maintains its great zingy flavor, and Jerry and Mr. G are still one of the best bromances in lit today, but this one wasn't as fun somehow. The apeal of these books is the growing friendship between the Rat Pack and the common pit boss who fixes their problems for them, and we saw very little of the Pack in this book. Still, in this one finally dealt with one of the realities of Vegas, gambiling addiction.

[Eden]

2026 bk 28. In this title, we go beyond Las Vegas to see some of the area around the city. Bing Crosby had been impressed with Epstein's knowledge of horses a year earlier. When Crosby's trainer doesn't show up, he asks Jerry to join him and Eddy G. in looking at a horse. The arrival at the ranch does not go as planned, they find the horse, but his owner is dead and of course, suspicion falls on our duo. Arriving back in Las Vegas, they are greeted with the news that Bing's trainer has been found murdered - so you can guess who is suspected. This is an action packed tale of friendship, gambling, the horses, and family secrets. Well done.

[Araych]

Rat Pack Mysteries #6. It's 1962. Bing Crosby comes to Las Vegas to buy a race horse and asks Eddie's help. They find trouble and dead bodies. Another light mystery in the series -- I liked it -- 3 stars.

[Dan Blackley]

Bob Hope and Bing Crosby are the two stars in this mystery.

[Lee Bahcall]

Fast fun read with members of some of Rat pack at their best.

[Sue Foster]

Set during the Rat Pack era at Las Vegas. All Bing Crosby wants to do is buy a race horse and from that the author crafts his story.

[Julie Failla Earhart]

Hey, hey, Pallies. The go-to man in Vegas, Eddie G., is back helping the Rat Pack’s friends get out of trouble. In this sixth caper, it’s Bing Crosby who finds himself in a bit of a spot.

Bing is in town to indulge in his other passion---besides golf and singing---horses and horse racing. When his trainer doesn’t show to go to look at a horse he’s considering buying, he turns to Dean Martin. Dino is in town to keep an eye on Frank, Jr., who is opening his first Vegas show. Dean enlists Eddie and Brooklyn’s Jerry Epstein to go with Bing and check out the horse. Bing remembers Jerry from a day at the races when he and Eddie were Dean’s guest as Del Mar. Bing is excited, knowing that if it’s one thing besides food and guns Jerry knows, it’s horses.

The horse looks great, but the man who owns it is dead. And so we have Body Number One. As usual with Eddie G. and Jerry, the bodies start to pile up. Even Eddie’s detective friend, Danny, stumbles over his fair share of corpuses. There is a brief appearance by Frank.

The Epilogue gives readers a shock, making it almost impossible to wait for the seventh adventure.

[Myr]

Enjoyed this entry in the Rat Pack Mysteries series much more than the last! For one, Jerry's back. It's like picking up a Spenser book and realizing Hawk's in it. Takes the pressure off, cause even if the story doesn't hold up, you know you'll get to enjoy the interactions between two great characters.

This book finds Vegas pit boss Eddie Gianelli and everybody's favorite Brooklyn big man, Jerry Epstein, called upon to help another of the extended Rat Pack family -- this time it's Bing Crosby. When Bing's trainer goes missing, he asks our heroes to tag along when he goes to see a man about a horse. Not surprisingly, the guys find themselves neck-deep in dead bodies in no time. The mystery is serviceable, which is really all that is required. After all, I'm just here for the repartee.

Fly Me To the Morgue also features cameos by Frank and Dean (I am always happy to see either of them, but especially Dean). Looking forward to the next title.

[Melodie]

I always enjoy a visit with Eddie G & Jery and the Rat Pack crew. But the Rat Pack boys don't figure as strongly in this one. Dean Martin makes a couple of appearances and he's the one who actually hooks Eddie & Jerry up with Bing Crosby. Sinatra's appearance is more of a cameo when he comes to town for the closing night of Frank Jr's show. The story involves Bing's trip to Vegas to see a horse he's thinking about buying. When Bing's trainer is a no-show he asks Eddie to see if Jerry would be willing to fly in, on Bing's dime, of course, to check out the horse with him. Bodies start turning up and Eddie & Jerry go to work. Always enjoyable stories, just not the best one in the bunch!

[Dave]

Las Vegas pit boss Eddie G and his pal Jerry (a leg-breaker from New York) are back in another "Rat Pack" mystery.
This time, Eddie and Jerry are trying to help Bing Crosby see a man about a horse-a race horse that Bing wants to buy. But when Eddie and Jerry get together, it's not long before the dead bodies start showing up...
This is the 6th Rat Pack mystery. Randisi seems to enjoy writing them, and it shows. He packs bits of trivia into each book. I won't spoil anything here, just know he makes the trip back to 1960's Vegas worth it!

[Gregory]

During a golf game that pitted Eddie and Dean Martin against Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, Bing asks Eddie if Jerry would consider flying out to Vegas to help him purchase a horse. And, Dean asks if Eddie would do Frank a favor and keep an eye on Frank Jr. as he makes his Vegas singing debut. Well, when Eddie and Jerry get together bodies start stacking up and this time its no different. If you're a fan of the Rat Pack Mysteries, this is another fun/fast read. If you've never read any of the Rat Pack Mysteries...Why the hell not?

[Linda]

Mr. Randisi keeps churning out solid period-piece thrillers set in the seamy underside of 1950's-1960's Las Vegas. This time, casino pit boss Eddie Gianelli and his always-hungry, Brooklyn muscle-man sidekick Jerry Epstein are asked to do a favor for Bing Crosby: help him check out a horse which he is considering purchasing. Things get sticky when they find the horse's owner beaten to death in his own barn ...

[Jane]

Another in the Rat Pack series set in Las Vegas in the 60's. Eddie G., a pit boss at the Sands hotel helps out Bing Crosby ( with a little help from Frank and Dean) when he comes to Vegas to buy a horse and his trainer has disappeared. As we have learned whenever Eddie is "helping" the guys bodies seem to fall at his feet. Love this series ---

[Garth]

As some of the characters were based on already well known entertainers - Sinatra, Crosby and Martin - it was easy to imagine them and "hear" their voiceswhen they spoke. It also meant hey needed no character development by the author as they are already well established. I enjoyed the book once I had got used to some of the americanisms I was not initially familiar with.

[Carl]

Transports you back to the age of the Rat Pack, in Vegas during the 60's heydays. All your old favorites are there for an old fashioned private dick murder mystery novel. Bob Hope, Bing Corsby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, etc... Best read with a cocktail, and a Frank CD on in the background.

[Marcie]

Not a great book but an enjoyable read and I liked the Rat Pack being in it.

[Rob]

Guys and Dolls, it's an easy read. And it's a lot of fun. The whole series is. Read 'me in order and enjoy feeling a little closer to the Rat Pack!

[Tina Reitz]

fun fun fun

[Joe O'Connor]

Very Good; Continuing characters: Eddie Gianelli; Eddie and Jerry are helping Bing Crosby purchase a race horse, until the seller turns up dead