Flame

Fred Carver #4

by John Lutz

When a client dies in a car explosion, Orlando detective Fred Carver learns the man may not have been who he said he wasFor Bert Renway, it starts out as a simple a fat bundle of money to spend a few weeks impersonating Frank Wesley, a local tycoon. But after a while Bert grows suspicious of the easy money, and seeks help in the shape of Fred Carver, an ex–Orlando policeman turned private investigator. Like Bert, Carver smells trouble, and agrees to help him find out who his employers are and why they want him to play Wesley. Neither of them is suspicious enough. A few minutes after Bert leaves, an explosion sounds in the parking lot—the new client’s car gone up in a burst of flame. When they pull his body from the wreckage, dental records identify him not as Bert Renway, but as Frank Wesley. Carver doesn’t care. He’s on the case no matter who the man was. This ebook features an illustrated biography of John Lutz including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author’s personal collection.Flame is the 4th book in the Fred Carver Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

Genres: Detective, Mystery

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John Lutz has captivated suspense enthusiasts for over four decades. He has been one of the premier voices in contemporary hard-boiled fiction. His work includes political suspense, private eye novels, urban suspense, humor, occult, crime caper, police procedural, espionage, historical, futuristic, amateur detective, thriller; virtually every mystery sub-genre. John Lutz published his first short story in 1966 in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and has been publishing regularly ever since. He is the author of more than fifty novels and 250 short stories and articles.

His novels and short fiction have been translated into virtually every language and adapted for almost every medium. He is a past president of both Mystery Writers of America and Private Eye Writers of America. Among his awards are the MWA Edgar, the PWA Shamus, The Trophee 813 Award for best mystery short story collection translated into the French language, the PWA Life Achievement Award, and the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Golden Derringer Lifetime Achievement Award.

He is the author of two private eye series, the Nudger series, set in his home town of St. Louis, and the Carver series, set in Florida, as well as many non-series suspense novels. His SWF SEEKS SAME was made into the hit movie SINGLE WHITE FEMALE, starring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, and his novel THE EX was made into the HBO original movie of the same title, for which he co-authored the screenplay.

Lutz and his wife, Barbara, split their time between St. Louis and Sarasota, Florida.

Reviews

[Maryam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up from my community centres’ little free library, solely because I liked the cover. I am a sucker for a mysteries and when I was in grade five my nickname was Nancy Drew, because I would exclusively read mysteries. I like to try and solve the case before the narrator.

This book was like watching a tv show. It felt like I *was* in Florida in the 90s, with writing so descriptive you forget you’re reading. A good paced story, enough plot twists to keep you hooked, a likeable downtrodden detective, and a good arc that bends towards justice.

I think this one of those books you read for more of the felt sense experience. It’s mid-august, it’s hot, what could be better than reading about a detective getting up to no good?

[Marshamariella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this installment of Frank Carver series. It was a good plot. While I have to admit I like my heroes invincible Carver through his reckless behavior sometimes gets hurt in the process this time losing an earlobe he always rises like a phoenix in the end.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another down-and-dirty PI novel.
Lutz makes his characters, both good and bad, seem real.

[Mikebee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb plotting, ironic commentary baked with The merciless Florida heat. Not as noir as Chandler, nor irreverent as McDonald. Travis McGee would buy Craver a G and T.