The Fala Factor

Toby Peters #9

by Stuart M. Kaminsky

Convinced that her famous Scottish terrier, Fala, has been kidnapped and replaced with an inferior pooch, Eleanor Roosevelt asks L.A. private eye Toby Peters to find the real Fala. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical Mystery, Crime

214 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1984

About the author

Stuart M. Kaminsky wrote 50 published novels, 5 biographies, 4 textbooks and 35 short stories. He also has screenwriting credits on four produced films including ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, ENEMY TERRITORY, A WOMAN IN THE WIND and HIDDEN FEARS. He was a past president of the Mystery Writers of America and was nominated for six prestigious Edgar Allen Poe Awards including one for his short story “Snow” in 1999. He won an Edgar for his novel A COLD RED SUNRISE, which was also awarded the Prix De Roman D’Aventure of France. He was nominated for both a Shamus Award and a McCavity Readers Choice Award.

Kaminsky wrote several popular series including those featuring Lew Fonesca, Abraham Lieberman, Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, and Toby Peters. He also wrote two original "Rockford Files " novels. He was the 50th annual recipient of the Grandmaster 2006 for Lifetime Achievement from the Mystery Writers of America.

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievement award) in 2007.

His nonfiction books including BASIC FILMMAKING, WRITING FOR TELEVISION, AMERICAN FILM GENRES, and biographies of GARY COOPER, CLINT EASTWOOD, JOHN HUSTON and DON SIEGEL. BEHIND THE MYSTERY was published by Hot House Press in 2005 and nominated by Mystery Writers of America for Best Critical/Biographical book in 2006.

Kaminsky held a B.S. in Journalism and an M.A. in English from The University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in Speech from Northwestern University where he taught for 16 years before becoming a Professor at Florida State. where he headed the Graduate Conservatory in Film and Television Production. He left Florida State in 1994 to pursue full-time writing.

Kaminsky and his wife, Enid Perll, moved to St. Louis, Missouri in March 2009 to await a liver transplant to treat the hepatitis he contracted as an army medic in the late 1950s in France. He suffered a stroke two days after their arrival in St. Louis, which made him ineligible for a transplant. He died on October 9, 2009.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 9th book in the 'Toby Peters' private detective series involves the alleged abduction of the 'First Dog of the United State' (FDOTUS). LOL 😁 The book can be read as a standalone with no problem.

*****


It's 1942 and private detective Toby Peters is hired by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to retrieve the President's beloved pooch Fala.



Mrs. Roosevelt believes Fala was snatched and a substitute left in his place. It seems a crackpot rival political party is trying to take over the government and may have kidnapped the dog to throw the President off his stride.



This quirky plot is aided by the usual offbeat characters including Toby's amusing elderly landlady who calls him Mr. Peelers and thinks he's an exterminator/book editor;



Toby's intrepid best friend, Gunther, a little person;



Toby's landlord, the incompetent dentist Shelly Minck, who's as likely to land you in the hospital as fix your teeth;



Toby's pal Jeremy, an ex-wrestler/would be poet who provides muscle for Toby's team; and so on.



The famous actor Buster Keaton even makes a brief appearance.



Not that much mystery to the plot but it's a fun, light read.

You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/

[F.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying this rapid read through of some of the Toby Peters mysteries. But do wonder - circus one apart - how distinct they will stay in my memory.

This one concerns FDR’s dog, a creature I didn’t know existed before this book.

[John Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical fiction, with touches of humor, snappy dialogue, and quirky characters, along with a good mystery. It all adds up to a very pleasant read.

[James Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleanor Roosevelt comes to Toby for help. The President's dog was dognapped and she needs to keep it quiet, outside official channels. No problem: Toby Peters is on the case.

With his friends Gunther, the little person polyglot and roommate at Toby's boarding house, Jeremy, the ex-wrestler and current landlord and poet, and Shelley, the office mate, bad dentist and general pain in the ass, Toby sets off to fight an almost equally-odd cast of ne'er-do-wells.

Along the way, he gets shot at, more than once, bitten, pounded, bruised and generally insulted (not to mentioned getting his ass handed to him in handball by his regular competition, a man in his late 60s), and nearly run over. Then there's his brother, now getting a promotion from lieutenant to captain of police, while not losing one iota of his angry, violent temper. Said temper almost inevitably directed at Toby, who egg's his brother on.

Basically, your average experience, for Toby Peters. Oh, yeah, there's also a couple encounters with Buster Keaton, to liven things up a bit more.

Fun, as always. Kaminsky was a gem of a writer and this one of my favourite series to read.

[Doreen Dalesandro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 3.5 stars.
Genre: mystery
I listened to this book.

I am owned by two Cairn Terriers and one terrier mix. I couldn't resist this book! It is a fun read. I enjoyed Stuart M. Kaminsky's humor.

Tom Parker does a great job narrating!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Stuart Kaminsky book and I was drawn to it by "the Fala factor" and Eleanor Roosevelt. I've read quite a few novels featuring Mrs. Roosevelt and each one seems to give me a few tidbits of insight in to her character. Her role in this Noir romp through old Los Angeles was not disappointing. She exudes all the warmth and dignity that her admirers would expect and, although her role in minor in the novel, she drives the action .

I loved the character of Toby Peters, but found myself a bit in agreement with his brother's frustration that he hasn't done more with his life. In the tradition of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler's down-on-their luck detectives, Toby Peters walks in to trouble with the ease and disregard for the consequences. It doesn't make sense, but this kind of book requires serious suspension of disbelief. And, I am happy to grant it.

The Fala Factor was an interesting period piece and as someone living in Southern California, I loved being immersed in old Los Angeles.

[John Reis · Rating 3 out of 5]

FDR’s dog Fala is behaving strangely. Eleanor suspects the dog has been taken and hires Toby to investigate. Peters runs around Los Angelos with Eleanor’s list of suspects. He runs across a very large, very dumb former wrestler named Bass who tries to kill him.

Buster Keaton buys the dog. Bass arrives to take the dog. That is the only funny scene in the book. Toby then runs across the culprits, a group of political hopefuls looking to embarrass the president.

Zany action ensues but none of it is very funny. In the end, Toby is beaten several times, some of his limited wardrobe is ruined, his car needs work done on it and his meals continue to consist of Wheaties and hot dogs, but Eleanor pays him well. Maybe the tedious poor act witl end.

[Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 9th book in the enjoyable mystery series featuring Private Investigator Toby Peters. Peters works as a private investigator in the 1930s and 1940s Los Angeles. Most of his cases involve a client connected to the Hollywood crowd, although as you may guess from the title, this one involves first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and a dognapping. I would describe these as a noir mystery with plenty of comic relief. It is a light, enjoyable read, a great way to pass a summer afternoon.

[Robert James · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been many years since I read a Toby Peters mystery and it was well worth it. Part comedy and part noir, the story steams ahead with a satisfying conclusion. For those not familiar with Peters, he's an old school detective searching for clues the old-fashioned way by actually asking questions. He will get into some fisticuffs but that's not one of his strengths. I will be searching out another Peters mystery soon.

[Deborah Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an entertaining read. Part old time "Who-done-it" mystery of the '40's and party comedy. I just loved listening to it during a very rough time during Covid-19. Loved the story and the writing. It reminds me of every old B & W movie I watched in reruns on TV Movie Time during the early 1950's.

[Willie Kirschner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of the better ones

While I have enjoyed many of Mr Kaminsky’s books, mainly the Lieberman and Russian detective stories, this book, based on the idea of rescuing President Roosevelt’s dog, was not one of my favorites.

[Araych · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toby Peters #9, in which Toby is hired by Eleanor Roosevelt to retrieve the dognapped First Dog Fala. The intricate plot finds Toby dealing with Buster Keaton, the far right wing and assorted crooks and goons in Hollywood in 1942. I love this series and this is one of the best -- 4 stars.

[Jon Ziomek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun Toby Peters mystery, with a clever climax scene. Not his best, but definitely enjoyable.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toby Peters finds Eleanor Roosevelt in his office. She sets him on a quest to find the President's dog, Fala, after an apparent dognapping and substitution with an imposter.

[Raquel Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

O cão do presidente Roosevelt é raptado e cabe aí nosso herói tratar dos procedimentos. Até agora, o livro mais bem apanhado da série.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cried with laughter. His dialogue is wonderful

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are always the same but I still enjoy them.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book full of celebrities in unexpected places. The story itself has an unexpected ending, as convoluted as it may be. The writing style is the best of the reading experience. Lots of well developed characters with clear distinct voices. Tough to do when a writer has so many characters (based on real people or not) milling about.

The story does involve Fala, Roosevelt's dog, but the story involves far more than that and more specifically the main character, Toby Peters, continued lot in life and all those around him that effect it. Toby is a wobegone character and it is fun following his continued adventures. The mystery part is almost in the way of the Peters life story. That's Ok, though, because of how writer, Stuart Kaminsky, handles the series.

[Graceann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A period mystery with Buster Keaton and Eleanor Roosevelt as characters has to be just a little bit intriguing. This is one of a series featuring famous people in various roles, and it was fun to see how Kaminsky put it all together.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent light reading.

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good; Continuing character: Toby Peters; Eleanor Roosevelt pays a call to ask Toby to track down the President's dog, that has been switched with an impostor and dog-napped

[Ed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Toby Peters w/Eleanor Roosevelt

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1942 Hollywood & written in Film Noir style. Tody Peters has been hired by Eleanor Roosevelt to find FDR's prize Scotty Fala. Did Buster Keaton really kidnap the president's dog?

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the characher Toby Peters and all the great interactions he has with famous people of the time. Fun read but not much in suspense.

[Christian Devries · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid murder mystery but nothing fancy.

[David Seelye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still funny and enrapting.

[🐥Erica 🐥 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dry humour in this one was rather good.

[Pooch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleanor Roosevelt hires a PI to find the missing Scottie dog, Fala, before FDR realizes that the Fala in the White House is an imposter!

Cute-cute-cute story.