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Cape Weathers Investigation #2
Beating the Babushka
A movie producer hurtles to his death from the top of the Golden Gate Bridge, an apparent suicide that shocks the film community and puts a two hundred million dollar production in jeopardy.
His colleague, Grace, doesn't believe it was suicide and turns to private detec-tive Cape Weathers to find the truth. To solve the case, Cape and his friend Sally–an assassin raised by the Triads–take on the Russian mob, a major movie studio, and a recalcitrant police department by enlisting the help of rogue cops, computer hackers, and an investigative journalist who just doesn't give a damn. But with a sniper on their trail, the challenge will be staying alive long enough to find out the truth.
Praise for "Stealing the Dragon"
" . . . Maleeny gives readers a fresh and fast take that enthralls." "–Crimespree"
"Tough, original, compelling–a perfect thriller debut."–Lee Child, "New York Times" bestselling author of "The Hard Way"
His colleague, Grace, doesn't believe it was suicide and turns to private detec-tive Cape Weathers to find the truth. To solve the case, Cape and his friend Sally–an assassin raised by the Triads–take on the Russian mob, a major movie studio, and a recalcitrant police department by enlisting the help of rogue cops, computer hackers, and an investigative journalist who just doesn't give a damn. But with a sniper on their trail, the challenge will be staying alive long enough to find out the truth.
Praise for "Stealing the Dragon"
" . . . Maleeny gives readers a fresh and fast take that enthralls." "–Crimespree"
"Tough, original, compelling–a perfect thriller debut."–Lee Child, "New York Times" bestselling author of "The Hard Way"
364 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2007
7 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Tim Maleeny
25 books61 followersTim Maleeny is the bestselling author of the award-winning Cape Weathers mysteries, including STEALING THE DRAGON, a novel about the Chinese Triads that was named a Killer Book of the Year by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
Publishers Weekly said his series “engages the reader without insisting that it be taken too seriously, with writing that will resonate with Elmore Leonard fans.”
His latest is a global art heist called HANGING THE DEVIL, which Library Journal praises for its "relentlessly fast-paced plot and delightful dry humor" in a starred review. San Francisco Magazine calls it "a riveting thriller you won't be able to put down, guaranteed."
Tim's standalone comedic thriller JUMP was described as "a perfectly blended cocktail of escapism" by Publishers Weekly and was named Best Mystery of the Year by Foreword Magazine.
Tim won the prestigious Macavity Award for his short fiction, which appears in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen, and several major anthologies, including Thriller 2, Uncage Me, Fear, and Death Do Us Part.
Crimespree Magazine said “Maleeny gives readers a fresh and fast take that enthralls,” and Bookreporter called him “one of the new princes of detective fiction.” A member of the International Thriller Writers, Sisters In Crime, and Mystery Writers of America, Tim currently lives and writes in New York City.
Publishers Weekly said his series “engages the reader without insisting that it be taken too seriously, with writing that will resonate with Elmore Leonard fans.”
His latest is a global art heist called HANGING THE DEVIL, which Library Journal praises for its "relentlessly fast-paced plot and delightful dry humor" in a starred review. San Francisco Magazine calls it "a riveting thriller you won't be able to put down, guaranteed."
Tim's standalone comedic thriller JUMP was described as "a perfectly blended cocktail of escapism" by Publishers Weekly and was named Best Mystery of the Year by Foreword Magazine.
Tim won the prestigious Macavity Award for his short fiction, which appears in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen, and several major anthologies, including Thriller 2, Uncage Me, Fear, and Death Do Us Part.
Crimespree Magazine said “Maleeny gives readers a fresh and fast take that enthralls,” and Bookreporter called him “one of the new princes of detective fiction.” A member of the International Thriller Writers, Sisters In Crime, and Mystery Writers of America, Tim currently lives and writes in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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May 30, 2011Beating the Babushka, by Tim Maleeny, b-plus, narrated by Michael Kramer, produced by Blackstone Audio, downloaded from audible.com.
This is the second book in the Cape Weathers series set in San Francisco. A movie producer hurtles to his death from the top of the Golden Gate Bridge, an apparent suicide that shocks the film community and jeopardizes a $200 million production.The assistant producer, Grace, doesn't believe it was suicide and turns to private detective
Cape Weathers to find the truth. To solve the case, Cape and his friend Sally, an assassin raised by the Triads, take on the Russian mob, a major movie
studio, and a recalcitrant police department by enlisting the help of his unconventional cop friend, a disabled genius computer hacker, and an investigative journalist. This is the second in the series and finds Cape exposing himself to danger, saved time and again by his assassin friend Sally, and with allies he didn’t know he had in the Russian mob. An engrossing thriller where you have to suspend judgment and enjoy the ride.
This is the second book in the Cape Weathers series set in San Francisco. A movie producer hurtles to his death from the top of the Golden Gate Bridge, an apparent suicide that shocks the film community and jeopardizes a $200 million production.The assistant producer, Grace, doesn't believe it was suicide and turns to private detective
Cape Weathers to find the truth. To solve the case, Cape and his friend Sally, an assassin raised by the Triads, take on the Russian mob, a major movie
studio, and a recalcitrant police department by enlisting the help of his unconventional cop friend, a disabled genius computer hacker, and an investigative journalist. This is the second in the series and finds Cape exposing himself to danger, saved time and again by his assassin friend Sally, and with allies he didn’t know he had in the Russian mob. An engrossing thriller where you have to suspend judgment and enjoy the ride.
June 16, 2016
This is the second of Tim Maleeny's novels that I've read, and now I recall why I placed it on my "to-read" list. An entertaining, sarcastic, resourceful protagonist who, when needed, has a female ninja-trained friend watching his back. He deals with Russian bad guys, has sources all over the place, and just enough of a love interest to keep things interesting in his personal life.
The plot is satisfyingly twisted and the story moves at a great clip. This is enjoyable, noir-ish storytelling largely set in San Francisco that makes for a nice interlude from heavier Nordic mystery authors to whom I tend to gravitate.
I hope Maleeny writes another Cape Weathers investigation soon. He's a talented author.
The plot is satisfyingly twisted and the story moves at a great clip. This is enjoyable, noir-ish storytelling largely set in San Francisco that makes for a nice interlude from heavier Nordic mystery authors to whom I tend to gravitate.
I hope Maleeny writes another Cape Weathers investigation soon. He's a talented author.
April 10, 2020
I enjoyed this mystery set in San Francisco and New York.
It starts with the death of a movie producer, who is falling from the Golden Gate Bridge. One wonders what thoughts and ideas go through your mind at that time. We witness Tom's thoughts, but I am not sure we ever find out who is responsible for him being in this situation.
This mystery reveals a lot about movie production and their cost accounting systems. It also involves the Russian mob (not my favorite theme), the Italian mob (ditto) and the Chinese triads (ditto).
I did enjoy the voice of Cape Weathers and the San Francisco locations. I have not read book one in this series, but will try to find my copy and read it. I don't think there were any spoilers for it in book two.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
It starts with the death of a movie producer, who is falling from the Golden Gate Bridge. One wonders what thoughts and ideas go through your mind at that time. We witness Tom's thoughts, but I am not sure we ever find out who is responsible for him being in this situation.
This mystery reveals a lot about movie production and their cost accounting systems. It also involves the Russian mob (not my favorite theme), the Italian mob (ditto) and the Chinese triads (ditto).
I did enjoy the voice of Cape Weathers and the San Francisco locations. I have not read book one in this series, but will try to find my copy and read it. I don't think there were any spoilers for it in book two.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
June 18, 2020
Taking place in San Francisco and New York City, this second entry in the series begins with the suicide of a movie producer who had been working on a $200-million block buster. But when a co-producer disagrees with that cause of death and gets no help from the SFPD, she goes to Cape for his expertise. That sets off a chain of events that includes Cape and Sally in movie financial details, the Russian mob, and the importance of chess in solving mysteries. Another exciting audiobook featuring fascinating characters, an intricate plot, and the superb narration of Michael Kramer.
June 14, 2008
Another pretty good mystery! I could still do without the liberal use of the f-word, and it would've been nice to know that this story happens before Stealing the Dragon, but its still an enjoyable, easy to read, mystery.
March 29, 2008
awesome book. i love his work.
April 7, 2008
Entertaining and exciting!
August 23, 2008
First book of two about Cape Weathers. Incorporates the Russian Mob, Chinese Tong, and the Mafia. Fast paced with interesting characters.
July 30, 2011
Not as good as Stealing the Dragon but still a fun read.
February 10, 2024
SPOILER ALERT
A movie producer is "flying to his death", his thinking as he fall from the Golden Gate Bridge, suicide or murder. The surreal scene reflects his thinking: that he is flying and can return to the top at will, that he is like Peter Pan and needs dust from Tinkerbell, his feelings when bungy jumping in his youth, his daughter. No screaming, just dreaming. Seriously?!
Another plot element: two rival gangs that control the distribution of drugs in the city are killing members, the second torturing and killing by hanging the man from a rope above a hungry panther at the zoo, then lowering him to be mauled, shooting him in the face and putting him in the yellow, tunnel slide in the children's playground, to be found by a boy and his mother the next morning. More than a bit much!
Third part: a friend of the producer, who worked with him for years, hires Cape Weathers to move the recalcitrant police into investigating Tom Abrahams death. What follows are a number of dithering conversations between Cape and Grace Gold about Hollywood and filmmaking, or movie making depending on your perspective, franchises and stupid movie plots, in what is meant to be witty, but is just dumb.
Me...I vote for suicide for any number of reasons, not the least of which is this ridiculous literary plot and multiple dithering dialogues (the one on sausages was a waste of words, and the references to male "nuts"). After forty plus pages I was bored cross-eyed (as were the police), and I closed the book to pass on the rest of the series.
A movie producer is "flying to his death", his thinking as he fall from the Golden Gate Bridge, suicide or murder. The surreal scene reflects his thinking: that he is flying and can return to the top at will, that he is like Peter Pan and needs dust from Tinkerbell, his feelings when bungy jumping in his youth, his daughter. No screaming, just dreaming. Seriously?!
Another plot element: two rival gangs that control the distribution of drugs in the city are killing members, the second torturing and killing by hanging the man from a rope above a hungry panther at the zoo, then lowering him to be mauled, shooting him in the face and putting him in the yellow, tunnel slide in the children's playground, to be found by a boy and his mother the next morning. More than a bit much!
Third part: a friend of the producer, who worked with him for years, hires Cape Weathers to move the recalcitrant police into investigating Tom Abrahams death. What follows are a number of dithering conversations between Cape and Grace Gold about Hollywood and filmmaking, or movie making depending on your perspective, franchises and stupid movie plots, in what is meant to be witty, but is just dumb.
Me...I vote for suicide for any number of reasons, not the least of which is this ridiculous literary plot and multiple dithering dialogues (the one on sausages was a waste of words, and the references to male "nuts"). After forty plus pages I was bored cross-eyed (as were the police), and I closed the book to pass on the rest of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2024
“Beating the Babushka”, second in the 'Cape Weathers Investigation' series, sees him investigating the death of a successful movie producer.
It quickly becomes clear that the suicide was murder but the reasons for it are not so much unclear as downright enigmatic. Could it have something to do with the large amount of drugs found in his apartment? Maybe the $200m movie he was working on had something to do with it.
Cape, as usual, uses his friends (Beau, Linda, Barry (aka Sloth) and, of course, Sally, to stir things up. His approach boils down to annoying everyone who could be even remotely involved in the hope that the guilty party will come after him.
Unlike many other P.I.s Cape comes fully formed with little or no backstory. It did have me wondering how he makes a living as he doesn't appear to have much in savings and there is no sign of family wealth or a trust fund.
The dialogue is good and the plot is more twisty than most.
3 Stars.
It quickly becomes clear that the suicide was murder but the reasons for it are not so much unclear as downright enigmatic. Could it have something to do with the large amount of drugs found in his apartment? Maybe the $200m movie he was working on had something to do with it.
Cape, as usual, uses his friends (Beau, Linda, Barry (aka Sloth) and, of course, Sally, to stir things up. His approach boils down to annoying everyone who could be even remotely involved in the hope that the guilty party will come after him.
Unlike many other P.I.s Cape comes fully formed with little or no backstory. It did have me wondering how he makes a living as he doesn't appear to have much in savings and there is no sign of family wealth or a trust fund.
The dialogue is good and the plot is more twisty than most.
3 Stars.
April 16, 2023
I really liked the second book of Cape Weathers series, a very entertaining story.
After reading Stealing the Dragon, I had great expectations and Tim Maleeny didn't let me down.
Cape and Sally are back, he has to solve a mystery and she's going to watch his back and to save his life once again.
Beating the babuska has a twisted plot and the supporting characters keep being interesting. The sarcastic interactions between Cape and his friends are probably the best part.
I'm going to read the remaining books of the series.
After reading Stealing the Dragon, I had great expectations and Tim Maleeny didn't let me down.
Cape and Sally are back, he has to solve a mystery and she's going to watch his back and to save his life once again.
Beating the babuska has a twisted plot and the supporting characters keep being interesting. The sarcastic interactions between Cape and his friends are probably the best part.
I'm going to read the remaining books of the series.
December 2, 2023
Didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first one. I like knowing all the characters and watching them grow throughout a series. But continuous characters in this book were unimportant, and I couldn’t figure out why there were there. A lot of loose ends too. Am told #3 is worth having had to go through #2. Let’s see! Will be getting to it next week.
Also, let’s not beat any babishkas. Terrible title!
Also, let’s not beat any babishkas. Terrible title!
November 12, 2019
Cape takes center stage now that Sally's back story is out of the way. Supporting characters help keep my attention.
June 29, 2009
Great book! Love the interaction between Cape and his friends. Smart and funny. Some of the quips catch you by surprise. The plot was so-so, but it did keep my interest all the way to the end of the book.
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February 15, 2010Every PI writer in San Francisco thinks he's Dashiell Hammett... and they never ever are. I didn't even make it to the first appearance of the beautiful female Chinese assassin sidekick, and that's saying a lot for me. So much for trying to think global, read local...
November 25, 2007
I really like the characters in this series. I was a little disappointed in this one. It seemed as though he rushed this one. Still a good read though.
Want to read
June 16, 200806/16/08 ARC rec via bookmooch
October 2, 2014
A good read. . . may be interested in reading more, enough to keep the name in mind.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews