What do you think?
Rate this book
Last Laff Mystery #2
Deadly Campaign
Comedy club owner and occasional performer Channing Hayes thought the comedy biz was tough, but it’s a stroll in the park compared to politics. When he and his business partner Artie attend a congressional campaign event for their friend Thomas Lee’s nephew, masked thugs storm in and break up Lee’s restaurant with baseball bats. The candidate’s people insist that the police not be involved, so Lee asks Channing to investigate. As Channing searches for answers, he finds himself plunged into a corrupt world of payoffs, gangs, illicit affairs, blackmail―and murder. A New Last Laff Mystery from Agatha Award-Nominated Author Alan Orloff
- GenresMystery
321 pages, Paperback
First published January 8, 2012
101 people want to read
About the author
Alan Orloff
58 books148 followersBefore Alan stepped off the corporate merry-go-round, he had an eclectic (some might say disjointed) career. As an engineer, he worked on nuclear submarines, supervised assembly workers in factories, facilitated technology transfer from the Star Wars program, and learned to stack washing machines three high in a warehouse with a forklift. He even started his own recycling and waste reduction newsletter business. Now he writes fiction.
His debut mystery, DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD, was a finalist for the Best First Novel Agatha Award. He writes the Last Laff Mystery Series: KILLER ROUTINE (#1) and DEADLY CAMPAIGN (#2), and has three e-book originals, THE TASTE (horror/thriller), FIRST TIME KILLER (thriller), and RIDE-ALONG (suspense).
He wrote the thrillers RUNNING FROM THE PAST and PRAY FOR THE INNOCENT (winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best E-Book Original).
His novel, I KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP was a Shamus Award finalist for Best First P.I. Novel.
His YA thriller, I PLAY ONE ON TV (Down & Out Books), won the Agatha Award and Anthony Award for Best YA Novel.
His novel, LATE CHECKOUT, is an Anthony Award Finalist for Best Paperback Original.
His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including JEWISH NOIR, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, CHESAPEAKE CRIMES: STORM WARNING, Mystery Weekly, NOIR AT THE SALAD BAR, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, five consecutive issues of the BEST NEW ENGLAND CRIME STORIES, THE NIGHT OF THE FLOOD, MICKEY FINN, and MYSTERY MOST GEOGRAPHICAL.
His story, “Rule Number One” (SNOWBOUND, Level Best Books), was selected for the 2018 edition of THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES anthology, edited by Louise Penny.
His story, "Dying in Dokesville," won a Derringer Award, and his story "Rent Due," won an ITW Thriller Award.
Alan recently moved to South Florida. He loves cake and arugula, but not together.
For more info, please visit his website: www.alanorloff.com
Alan is sorry he wrote this bio in the third person.
His debut mystery, DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD, was a finalist for the Best First Novel Agatha Award. He writes the Last Laff Mystery Series: KILLER ROUTINE (#1) and DEADLY CAMPAIGN (#2), and has three e-book originals, THE TASTE (horror/thriller), FIRST TIME KILLER (thriller), and RIDE-ALONG (suspense).
He wrote the thrillers RUNNING FROM THE PAST and PRAY FOR THE INNOCENT (winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best E-Book Original).
His novel, I KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP was a Shamus Award finalist for Best First P.I. Novel.
His YA thriller, I PLAY ONE ON TV (Down & Out Books), won the Agatha Award and Anthony Award for Best YA Novel.
His novel, LATE CHECKOUT, is an Anthony Award Finalist for Best Paperback Original.
His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including JEWISH NOIR, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, CHESAPEAKE CRIMES: STORM WARNING, Mystery Weekly, NOIR AT THE SALAD BAR, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, five consecutive issues of the BEST NEW ENGLAND CRIME STORIES, THE NIGHT OF THE FLOOD, MICKEY FINN, and MYSTERY MOST GEOGRAPHICAL.
His story, “Rule Number One” (SNOWBOUND, Level Best Books), was selected for the 2018 edition of THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES anthology, edited by Louise Penny.
His story, "Dying in Dokesville," won a Derringer Award, and his story "Rent Due," won an ITW Thriller Award.
Alan recently moved to South Florida. He loves cake and arugula, but not together.
For more info, please visit his website: www.alanorloff.com
Alan is sorry he wrote this bio in the third person.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 26, 2020
This was a fun read, but not funny. I was hoping for more laughs.
I have not read the prior book in the series, and I hope it is not spoiled by having read this one first. We do get some details about the death of his fiance Lauren.
In this one the restaurant next door to the Last Laff Comedy Club, Lee's Palace, is attacked during an election event. The owner Thomas Lee is supporting his nephew's victory in the democratic congressional primary. Channing Hayes is drawn into the investigation since he is recruited by Lee, to whom he owes favors, allegedly stemming from the first book.
What Hayes uncovers may blow the nephew out of the election race altogether. There are thugs and then there are family thugs. He must deal with both.
I thought most of his actions were credible, and enjoyed his sessions with a therapist.
I thought most of the actions of Rojo were not credible, but this is fiction, so...
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
I have not read the prior book in the series, and I hope it is not spoiled by having read this one first. We do get some details about the death of his fiance Lauren.
In this one the restaurant next door to the Last Laff Comedy Club, Lee's Palace, is attacked during an election event. The owner Thomas Lee is supporting his nephew's victory in the democratic congressional primary. Channing Hayes is drawn into the investigation since he is recruited by Lee, to whom he owes favors, allegedly stemming from the first book.
What Hayes uncovers may blow the nephew out of the election race altogether. There are thugs and then there are family thugs. He must deal with both.
I thought most of his actions were credible, and enjoyed his sessions with a therapist.
I thought most of the actions of Rojo were not credible, but this is fiction, so...
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
January 2, 2017
In need of an editor with backbone, and even then it may be hopeless...
July 29, 2016
Just can't get enough politics in the news these days? If so, you're in luck, because this mystery begins at a speech by an up-and-coming congressman. While the crowd is applauding the candidate masked thugs break into the room and begin roughing people up. Fortunately no one gets seriously hurt, but plenty of folks are rattled, and the budding politician's uncle asks his friend Channing Hayes to find out why they were attacked.
Of course, Hayes isn't technically a private investigator. His day job, or make that night job, is as the owner of a stand-up comedy club. A comic himself, he's more into making people laugh than grilling them for information. But he'd like to help his friend, so he agrees to do what he can. From invading the enemy's campaign headquarters, to consorting with bookies and sneaking a look at incriminating pictures, Channing's got his work cut out for him.
True to his word, he'll keep at it until he finds the truth. But the deeper he digs, the less he likes what he finds. Politics, it seems, is a dirty business.
Because there are several comedians in the character line-up you can look forward to a few tasteless jokes, and the kind of language you'd hear in a late-night comedy routine. But hey, whatever makes 'em laugh.
If you like the idea of a comedian P.I., check out the first book in the series, Killer Routine.
Of course, Hayes isn't technically a private investigator. His day job, or make that night job, is as the owner of a stand-up comedy club. A comic himself, he's more into making people laugh than grilling them for information. But he'd like to help his friend, so he agrees to do what he can. From invading the enemy's campaign headquarters, to consorting with bookies and sneaking a look at incriminating pictures, Channing's got his work cut out for him.
True to his word, he'll keep at it until he finds the truth. But the deeper he digs, the less he likes what he finds. Politics, it seems, is a dirty business.
Because there are several comedians in the character line-up you can look forward to a few tasteless jokes, and the kind of language you'd hear in a late-night comedy routine. But hey, whatever makes 'em laugh.
If you like the idea of a comedian P.I., check out the first book in the series, Killer Routine.
December 29, 2011
One of my favorite political mysteries is set in the Virginia suburbs; however, stand-up comedian and comedy club owner Channing Hayes isn't really interested in politics. His good friend Tommy Lee is very proud of his nephew Edward Wong's campaign, and enlists Channing to help find out who is causing trouble for the young man. Things go rapidly amiss, and Channing, still dealing with the loss of his fiancee, isn't really equipped to handle some of the problems Edward is facing.
February 6, 2013
Love this series!
May 8, 2021
I liked the characters and comedy club setting. The story was fast paced and kept my attention.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews