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Valentino #3
Alive!
Bela Lugosi’s Frankenstein screen test puts Valentino in the picture for murder
Everyone knows the Frankenstein monster was played by Boris Karloff. His portrayal is so famous that the play Arsenic and Old Lace was filled with Karloff/monster jokes—even when the part of the monstrously deformed villain was played by another actor. But before Karloff's memorable portrayal, another famous 1930s Hollywood icon, Bela Lugosi, tested for the part of the monster.
The screen test footage was lost for decades, until Valentino, that never-say-die film archivist, gets a hot tip about the whereabouts of the incriminating (for really bad, heavily accented acting) footage. But it comes with a price far greater than the money he'll have to pay. Someone would kill to get that reel of film, and that makes Valentino a mortal obstacle who would rather not die for art. People have already been murdered for the film, and Val doesn’t want to push his luck…but boy, that reel is too good to let go….
Enter a crew of steampunk fans. Loving the arcane strangeness that is Valentino’s life—not to mention the completely glam prospect of seeing the original filmic Count Dracula as the Frankenstein monster—they will find a way to save Valentino and Lugosi's infamous screen test. Or if they can’t do that, have a great party anyway. Val just hopes it's not a wake.…
In Alive!, Loren D. Estleman delivers a mystery that only he can.
Everyone knows the Frankenstein monster was played by Boris Karloff. His portrayal is so famous that the play Arsenic and Old Lace was filled with Karloff/monster jokes—even when the part of the monstrously deformed villain was played by another actor. But before Karloff's memorable portrayal, another famous 1930s Hollywood icon, Bela Lugosi, tested for the part of the monster.
The screen test footage was lost for decades, until Valentino, that never-say-die film archivist, gets a hot tip about the whereabouts of the incriminating (for really bad, heavily accented acting) footage. But it comes with a price far greater than the money he'll have to pay. Someone would kill to get that reel of film, and that makes Valentino a mortal obstacle who would rather not die for art. People have already been murdered for the film, and Val doesn’t want to push his luck…but boy, that reel is too good to let go….
Enter a crew of steampunk fans. Loving the arcane strangeness that is Valentino’s life—not to mention the completely glam prospect of seeing the original filmic Count Dracula as the Frankenstein monster—they will find a way to save Valentino and Lugosi's infamous screen test. Or if they can’t do that, have a great party anyway. Val just hopes it's not a wake.…
In Alive!, Loren D. Estleman delivers a mystery that only he can.
284 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Loren D. Estleman
317 books282 followersLoren D. Estleman is an American writer of detective and Western fiction. He writes with a manual typewriter.
Estleman is most famous for his novels about P.I. Amos Walker. Other series characters include Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books.) His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes.
Series:
* Amos Walker Mystery
* Valentino Mystery
* Detroit Crime Mystery
* Peter Macklin Mystery
* Page Murdock Mystery
Estleman is most famous for his novels about P.I. Amos Walker. Other series characters include Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books.) His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes.
Series:
* Amos Walker Mystery
* Valentino Mystery
* Detroit Crime Mystery
* Peter Macklin Mystery
* Page Murdock Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
July 14, 2023
This is the third book in Estleman’s Valentino mysteries. Valentino is a UCLA film archivist or Film Detective who bought an old movie palace in Hollywood called the Oracle and is in the process of restoring it. In the first book, FRAMES, he discovers a complete print of the movie "Greed" which was assumed lost forever. I really enjoyed FRAMES but was slightly disappointed with the second book in the series, ALONE, about some lost footage of Greta Garbo. In this third outing, Valentino's friend, Craig Hunter, is murdered by what appears to be a gang-related hit. But why? After searching through Hunter's belongings, Valentino determines that Hunter may have found the lost footage of Bela Lugosi's screen test for Frankenstein. Lugosi was actually slated to star in the movie playing the monster before Karloff got the role. But the screen test was quite bad and Lugosi backed out because he didn't have a speaking role. So does the footage exist and if so, what is it worth? Valentino follows the clues which lead to some underworld figures who are also after the footage. And a noted collector named J. Arthur Greenwood is highly interested in adding the missing screen test to his large collection of horror memorabilia. In fact, he had already purchased the only know poster that was printed proclaiming Lugosi in the role for over $100,000. Along the way, Valentino's assistant and a group of steampunkers get involved which make for a quite interesting story.
I definitely enjoyed this one more that ALONE. Estleman includes lots of information in the story about old Hollywood and especially the horror films made by Universal during the 30s and 40s. He discusses the careers of both Lugosi and Karloff and how Lugosi's career declined after playing Dracula while Karloff's rose steadily after his role in Frankenstein. The last movie that Lugosi appeared in before his death was called The Black Sleep from 1956 which was a throwback to the old Universal horror movies. After reading about this in the book, I actually found the movie streaming on Tubi and found it to be quite fun to watch. The Greenwood character in the book was fashioned after the real Forrest J. Ackerman who was also the publisher of Famous Monsters of Filmland, a magazine devoted to monster movies. I remember reading this back in the 60s when I was a teen and collected many of the issues which were always fascinating to me.
The screen test made by Bela Lugosi is also real and there was a poster made based on him being cast as the monster which sold for big bucks.
I have the next two books in this series and hope to get to them sometime soon.
I definitely enjoyed this one more that ALONE. Estleman includes lots of information in the story about old Hollywood and especially the horror films made by Universal during the 30s and 40s. He discusses the careers of both Lugosi and Karloff and how Lugosi's career declined after playing Dracula while Karloff's rose steadily after his role in Frankenstein. The last movie that Lugosi appeared in before his death was called The Black Sleep from 1956 which was a throwback to the old Universal horror movies. After reading about this in the book, I actually found the movie streaming on Tubi and found it to be quite fun to watch. The Greenwood character in the book was fashioned after the real Forrest J. Ackerman who was also the publisher of Famous Monsters of Filmland, a magazine devoted to monster movies. I remember reading this back in the 60s when I was a teen and collected many of the issues which were always fascinating to me.
The screen test made by Bela Lugosi is also real and there was a poster made based on him being cast as the monster which sold for big bucks.
I have the next two books in this series and hope to get to them sometime soon.
May 25, 2013
Somehow I missed the Valentino series from Loren D. Estleman until browsing the other day and hitting on the latest book, Alive!
Happy to be aboard.
Valentino is a film archivist for UCLA, and he becomes embroiled in murder mysteries that swirl around lost films. We're talking things like Eric Von Stronheim's Greed or, happily, the lost screen test of Bela Lugosi as the Frankenstein monster in Alive!
The screen test is real and really lost, cleared away to make storage space in a time before its importance and value were recognized at Universal Studios. But Estleman imagines a world where the footage still exists, two reels shot with Lugosi hot off the success of 1931's Dracula and targeted for a role in the next big Universal monster movie. Of course the role went to Boris Karloff, but collectors and film fans would love to see what might have been, or what went wrong.
Estleman offers up an interesting blend of film history and fiction as Valentino races to find the lost footage after he realizes it's at the core of an old friend's murder.
His pal, a washed up star with addiction issues, has come upon the footage, but criminal elements are involved. There's also a collector who's an homage to the late great punster and editor Forrest Ackerman of Famous Monsters of Filmland.
Estleman's imagined a rich world of supporting characters for Valentino including an intern who's into Steampunk and a department secretary from hell plus a fun pair of San Diego detectives. They're fun for the reader, not so fun for Valentino. The bad cop of the duo is on bad cop overdrive.
There's a nice and fairly twisty mystery plot woven through the tale, and tension builds as Valentino strives to solve the case and keep the film footage from decaying in a police evidence room.
The tale's also a fabulous look into film preservation with even a few contemplations on Steampunk's importance. Van Helsing qualifies, and Valentino's intern and friends watch with the sound turned down for the enjoyment of the production design.
All in all, it's nice mystery read and great book to pick up if you're an aficionado of Universal Horrors.
Must check out the other tales in the series as well including a collection of short stories.
Happy to be aboard.
Valentino is a film archivist for UCLA, and he becomes embroiled in murder mysteries that swirl around lost films. We're talking things like Eric Von Stronheim's Greed or, happily, the lost screen test of Bela Lugosi as the Frankenstein monster in Alive!
The screen test is real and really lost, cleared away to make storage space in a time before its importance and value were recognized at Universal Studios. But Estleman imagines a world where the footage still exists, two reels shot with Lugosi hot off the success of 1931's Dracula and targeted for a role in the next big Universal monster movie. Of course the role went to Boris Karloff, but collectors and film fans would love to see what might have been, or what went wrong.
Estleman offers up an interesting blend of film history and fiction as Valentino races to find the lost footage after he realizes it's at the core of an old friend's murder.
His pal, a washed up star with addiction issues, has come upon the footage, but criminal elements are involved. There's also a collector who's an homage to the late great punster and editor Forrest Ackerman of Famous Monsters of Filmland.
Estleman's imagined a rich world of supporting characters for Valentino including an intern who's into Steampunk and a department secretary from hell plus a fun pair of San Diego detectives. They're fun for the reader, not so fun for Valentino. The bad cop of the duo is on bad cop overdrive.
There's a nice and fairly twisty mystery plot woven through the tale, and tension builds as Valentino strives to solve the case and keep the film footage from decaying in a police evidence room.
The tale's also a fabulous look into film preservation with even a few contemplations on Steampunk's importance. Van Helsing qualifies, and Valentino's intern and friends watch with the sound turned down for the enjoyment of the production design.
All in all, it's nice mystery read and great book to pick up if you're an aficionado of Universal Horrors.
Must check out the other tales in the series as well including a collection of short stories.
April 12, 2013
2.5
Somewhat disappointing from this usually reliable author. Some good characters (I like the steampunk intern) but a bit disjointed writing/plot
Somewhat disappointing from this usually reliable author. Some good characters (I like the steampunk intern) but a bit disjointed writing/plot
May 16, 2020
The film buff part of this mystery, which hinges on long-lost footage of a screen test of Bela Lugosi as the Frankenstein monster, is fun; the mystery is much less so. It takes a good 70 pages for the mystery to even present itself, and I found the lead character of Valentino, a classic-era film scholar, colorless, and the other characters uninvolving. One character, based on the legendary editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland, Forrest J. Ackerman, is fun but not around for long. Estleman has written some 60 novels, mostly mysteries and westerns, but based on this rather bland exercise, I am not anxious to read anything more by him.
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November 3, 2020Full review: https://monsterbookclub.com/2020/11/0...
March 17, 2015
Alive! is the third novel in Loren D. Estleman's series about Valentino, a Los Angeles archivist whose job it is to track down lost pieces of cinema history, preferably to secure said miscellany for his University film studies department. It has long been rumoured that a screen test remained extant of Bela Lugosi in the role of Frankenstein's Monster, a test that was so very dreadful that he preferred it to be reported that he turned down the role which subsequently made Boris Karloff a household name. Valentino isn't thinking about that particular rumour, however; he's got his hands full with the continuing, and hugely expensive, restoration of a Golden Age theatre, not to mention his jealousy concerning his girlfriend Harriet, who is off at a seminar doing who knows what. And then there's his old friend Craig Hunter, a one-time actor fallen into addiction and desperation; Valentino brushes him off when Hunter calls in the wee hours, only to regret it later when Hunter turns up dead. Now it's up to Valentino to follow the trail and find out what happened before something similar befalls him.... I love the idea of a film hunter, it's such a quixotic job to hold, and Estleman is very knowledgeable about film history, which is shown by his extensive bibliographies with which he ends each book in this series. I also like that he includes a character here named J. Anderson Greenwood, a wealthy former publisher of horror magazines; the man is clearly modeled on J. Forrest Ackerman, but only somebody familiar with the horror genre as a whole and film in particular would know that. The characters are all well-drawn and the mystery fairly clued; best of all, one needn't have read Estleman's earlier novels in the series, or his short stories featuring Valentino, to enjoy this book. Recommended.
December 30, 2013
#3 in the Valentino series. This time out, film detective Valentino is on the track of the screen test Bela Lugosi made for the 1931 movie Frankenstein. Of course Boris Karloff got the part, which makes the Lugosi film clip rare and sought after. Added to the film-centric plot is a steampunk theme involving Valentino's intern. For those (like myself) for whom steampunk is an unexplored genre, here is some fascinating background. A fun read.
Valentino series - Actor Craig Hunter's life was on a downward trajectory that ended with his death from a beating in a San Diego bar. Valentino feels guilty for ignoring Craig's final pleas for help. The deceased's ex-wife feels guilty too, but she might have a hidden agenda: it turns out that Craig had unearthed the legendary missing film reels of Bela Lugosi's horrible audition for Frankenstein. A rare find brings out the worst in collectors, and Valentino has trouble narrowing down which one crossed the ethical line. His formidable suspect list includes a mob boss, an elitist collector, and that ex-wife. Valentino's sleuthing resources may be limited, but his graduate assistant is a steampunk devotee, and his posse assists in a memorable showdown.
Valentino series - Actor Craig Hunter's life was on a downward trajectory that ended with his death from a beating in a San Diego bar. Valentino feels guilty for ignoring Craig's final pleas for help. The deceased's ex-wife feels guilty too, but she might have a hidden agenda: it turns out that Craig had unearthed the legendary missing film reels of Bela Lugosi's horrible audition for Frankenstein. A rare find brings out the worst in collectors, and Valentino has trouble narrowing down which one crossed the ethical line. His formidable suspect list includes a mob boss, an elitist collector, and that ex-wife. Valentino's sleuthing resources may be limited, but his graduate assistant is a steampunk devotee, and his posse assists in a memorable showdown.
April 24, 2016
I have already read Loren Estleman's Sherlock Holmes fictionalized adventure novels and grabbed this one when it came out. This is one in a series of novels he has written featuring Valentino, a UCLA cinema archivist and 'film' detective. If you are a fan of classic films, especially the Universal Studios classic monster films and era, you will get a charge and plenty of thrills as you read this book. With the murder of a friend, Valentino is put on the trail of the lost screen test of Bela Lugosi trying out for the role of the Frankenstein monster while on the set of Dracula. Along the way, we are treated to much trivia surrounding Lugosi, karloff, the legendary films of Universal and the Hollywood culture of today and yesterday. This book comes alive with the monsters that made us shiver, the film factory period and the memorabilia that all film fans love and collect. You will thrill with Valentino as he and his interns take on the mob, henchmen, unscrupulous lawyers, police detectives, and a bevy of colorful characters. This was a joy to read and experience.
January 23, 2014
I had never read an Estleman book before stumbling across this one while patting shelves at work. Hmm, "old Hollywood", sez I, "Bela Lugosi in a screen test as Dr Frankenstein's monster for the upcoming movie is the McGuffin"... I'm in. Slight disappointment on reading, however. The protagonist, Valentino (strike one, only one name) works for a college film department in CA, and is renovating an money pit old theater, where he sleeps in the projection room. Valentino does a spot of detecting on the side in that milieu, as there are two previous titles in the series.
I found it slow going in the first half,with much explication of who's who in old Hollywood,accompanied by wooden noirish dialogue that is out of place in contempo bright LA. Old professor who serves as Valentino's mentor is likable enough;so is his intern Jason. Jason is a Steampunk enthusiast, another trope thrown in.
Later: the denouement picked up the pace, all was solved. Meh.
I found it slow going in the first half,with much explication of who's who in old Hollywood,accompanied by wooden noirish dialogue that is out of place in contempo bright LA. Old professor who serves as Valentino's mentor is likable enough;so is his intern Jason. Jason is a Steampunk enthusiast, another trope thrown in.
Later: the denouement picked up the pace, all was solved. Meh.
July 24, 2013
I don't think I've ever heard of a book about a film procurer doing amateur sleuthing before, but I'm glad I found & read this novel. It's really just plain mystery novel fun, but the twist with the lost film made it so much more interesting in my opinion. Although the author's style of writing sometimes rubbed me the wrong way(only a few times, when you really couldn't tell what character was talking or something along those lines.) Definitely one for all to check out :)
June 12, 2016
Valentino has got himself into another fine mess. It all started with late night call from a former friend. The murder shortly afterwards leads Valentino into a frenzy of guilt which leads to amateur sleuthing, withholding of evidence, dinner with gangsters, lying to his girlfriend, and a rescue by steampunkers. All for two reels of film tape. Plenty of fun and bits of movie trivia flying about with the fists and bullets . A fun quick read.
July 5, 2013
Breezy summer reading. I've recently discovered and like Estleman, but I absolutely bought this one because of the cover... which leads to my disappointment - nowhere near enough Boris and Bela in this for me. The "detective" Valentino is annoyingly nice, and that's a bit of a problem too. The story is enjoyable, even though the ending seems to go on forever.
March 9, 2019
While I really enjoy his Amos Walker series, this one was not as good as I'd hoped.
I am a huge Horror fan, and I'm familiar with the legend of Bela Lugosi's screen test for the 1931 Frankenstein.
How the hero of this story figures out that the screen test is the key to the mystery was a stretch for me.
A quick read, with some humor.
I am a huge Horror fan, and I'm familiar with the legend of Bela Lugosi's screen test for the 1931 Frankenstein.
How the hero of this story figures out that the screen test is the key to the mystery was a stretch for me.
A quick read, with some humor.
August 18, 2014
Disappointing. While I like the premise of the film detective, this was not a very mysterious mystery with a not very impressive detective.
January 14, 2017
I'm really enjoying this series about a university film archivist who solves mysteries as well!
May 23, 2019
Alive! caught my attention with the Universal Monsters connection (1st star -free) and a sub story relating Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein's Monster. The details were well researched and the core mystery/film topic is that of Hollywood lore to be sure. Unfortunately, the best part of the book was the "Closing Credits" segment after the acknowledgments, which laid out the wealth of information on the Universal horror franchises and their contribution to this book. (2nd star -well earned)
However, this story, and titular sleuth, Valentino "film detective", never really took off in my opinion. Granted this is #3 in this series, and not the first writing series under Estleman's belt (behind the 60+ books including: Amos Walker Mysteries, Page Murdock series, Detroit Crime novels, and numerous Westerns), so someone is enjoying the readings and I may have missed the better world building in another episode, albeit unlikely. I expected more from such a seasoned, award-winning, and prolific author. Valentino had no charisma, just that of an underfunded, overworked faculty member with Hollywood-ish friends/ties [insert mystery here].
But after meandering through Alive!, not only was I not engaged with this story, I find no interest to pursue any other Loren D. Estleman creation. The writing style was normal linear fare, nothing variant or extravagant. Against the descriptive back story segments, the characters came across as tired, generational stereotypes, including the main character trying to be hip through inclusion of younger themes and interests, in this case-Steampunk. And the mystery is one that has been seen played out on numerous 80's television detective/crime dramas of the hour-long variety (all-inclusive of the crime and resolution), while easily being just as unsatisfying, if not more so given the time invested to explore this particular world in the written form.
Ah, but if the over-the-hill, history professor at your local college was an amateur private investigator between classes, while renovating his campus building, in this case a theater to a variation of its former glory, then that story would be equaling as dry as this story was for me and surely one wouldn't really pursue it to its predictable, unsatisfying, good wins/bad loses see-you-next-time-kids end.
Researching the author a bit (via GR, thx), and based on reviews about Amos Walker stories, I had hoped this literary cousin, Valentino, would turn out to be another Spenser For Hire, Matt Scudder, or Harry Bosch, just out of his element. Alas, I was incorrect. Lesson Learned.
Thanks for reading.
However, this story, and titular sleuth, Valentino "film detective", never really took off in my opinion. Granted this is #3 in this series, and not the first writing series under Estleman's belt (behind the 60+ books including: Amos Walker Mysteries, Page Murdock series, Detroit Crime novels, and numerous Westerns), so someone is enjoying the readings and I may have missed the better world building in another episode, albeit unlikely. I expected more from such a seasoned, award-winning, and prolific author. Valentino had no charisma, just that of an underfunded, overworked faculty member with Hollywood-ish friends/ties [insert mystery here].
But after meandering through Alive!, not only was I not engaged with this story, I find no interest to pursue any other Loren D. Estleman creation. The writing style was normal linear fare, nothing variant or extravagant. Against the descriptive back story segments, the characters came across as tired, generational stereotypes, including the main character trying to be hip through inclusion of younger themes and interests, in this case-Steampunk. And the mystery is one that has been seen played out on numerous 80's television detective/crime dramas of the hour-long variety (all-inclusive of the crime and resolution), while easily being just as unsatisfying, if not more so given the time invested to explore this particular world in the written form.
Ah, but if the over-the-hill, history professor at your local college was an amateur private investigator between classes, while renovating his campus building, in this case a theater to a variation of its former glory, then that story would be equaling as dry as this story was for me and surely one wouldn't really pursue it to its predictable, unsatisfying, good wins/bad loses see-you-next-time-kids end.
Researching the author a bit (via GR, thx), and based on reviews about Amos Walker stories, I had hoped this literary cousin, Valentino, would turn out to be another Spenser For Hire, Matt Scudder, or Harry Bosch, just out of his element. Alas, I was incorrect. Lesson Learned.
Thanks for reading.
July 1, 2017
I love the old b&w horror movies, so this story was right up my alley. I didn't know about the problems Bela Lugosi had after Dracula-might be off down a rabbit hole on this topic.
"Bela Lugosi’s Frankenstein screen test puts Valentino in the picture for murder Everyone knows the Frankenstein monster was played by Boris Karloff. His portrayal is so famous that the play Arsenic and Old Lace was filled with Karloff/monster jokes—even when the part of the monstrously deformed villain was played by another actor. But before Karloff's memorable portrayal, another famous 1930s Hollywood icon, Bela Lugosi, tested for the part of the monster. The screen test footage was lost for decades, until Valentino, that never-say-die film archivist, gets a hot tip about the whereabouts of the incriminating (for really bad, heavily accented acting) footage. But it comes with a price far greater than the money he'll have to pay. Someone would kill to get that reel of film, and that makes Valentino a mortal obstacle who would rather not die for art. People have already been murdered for the film, and Val doesn’t want to push his luck…but boy, that reel is too good to let go…. Enter a crew of steampunk fans. Loving the arcane strangeness that is Valentino’s life—not to mention the completely glam prospect of seeing the original filmic Count Dracula as the Frankenstein monster—they will find a way to save Valentino and Lugosi's infamous screen test. Or if they can’t do that, have a great party anyway. Val just hopes it's not a wake.…"
"Bela Lugosi’s Frankenstein screen test puts Valentino in the picture for murder Everyone knows the Frankenstein monster was played by Boris Karloff. His portrayal is so famous that the play Arsenic and Old Lace was filled with Karloff/monster jokes—even when the part of the monstrously deformed villain was played by another actor. But before Karloff's memorable portrayal, another famous 1930s Hollywood icon, Bela Lugosi, tested for the part of the monster. The screen test footage was lost for decades, until Valentino, that never-say-die film archivist, gets a hot tip about the whereabouts of the incriminating (for really bad, heavily accented acting) footage. But it comes with a price far greater than the money he'll have to pay. Someone would kill to get that reel of film, and that makes Valentino a mortal obstacle who would rather not die for art. People have already been murdered for the film, and Val doesn’t want to push his luck…but boy, that reel is too good to let go…. Enter a crew of steampunk fans. Loving the arcane strangeness that is Valentino’s life—not to mention the completely glam prospect of seeing the original filmic Count Dracula as the Frankenstein monster—they will find a way to save Valentino and Lugosi's infamous screen test. Or if they can’t do that, have a great party anyway. Val just hopes it's not a wake.…"
October 11, 2021
the book was good but not outstanding it definitely had parts where i had no clue what was gonna happen. But that's not the only thing it was also very slow took a while to get interesting and even when it did it just wasn't outstanding. i decided to get the book because of classic horrors and i thought it would be more interesting overall. So i think it was good just not great if i could read it again well i wouldn't. My favorite quote was page 140 "Im fine, sir. Just a little stage fright." this shows that the protagonist is not perfect and still has self struggles just like everyone else. the plot is about Valentino a detective and a archivist at UCLA the story goes on the bases of a mystery crime case as there was a rumor that Boris Karloff was not the first actor for Frankenstein and that there is other footage even though it is bad it still is very valuable for a archivist and as his friend who has the tapes has gone broke offered to sell it to him but before the tapes were sold her friend is killed. that's kinda the base of the plot . I think the theme is kinda like if you have something of value keep it hidden because it could cost your life.
April 19, 2018
The third in a series of novels about a UCLA film preservationist who goes out and finds rare and lost film properties to collect for the restoration department. Each book is part mystery, part commentary on LA film culture, and part romp through historical Hollywood.
In this book, the main character Valentino stumbles across the only existing film of Bela Legosi's screen test for the role of Frankenstein's Monster. He got the part, but rejected it because it was silent and Karloff took the role, as most film buffs know.
This time Valentino gets involved with mobsters and is in serious trouble. Unlike most book sleuths, he's no tough guy action hero, just an academic lover of old movies and is very deeply in over his head. Its an enjoyable, interesting read from a master, although I still don't really care for the Harriet character (particularly in this book).
In this book, the main character Valentino stumbles across the only existing film of Bela Legosi's screen test for the role of Frankenstein's Monster. He got the part, but rejected it because it was silent and Karloff took the role, as most film buffs know.
This time Valentino gets involved with mobsters and is in serious trouble. Unlike most book sleuths, he's no tough guy action hero, just an academic lover of old movies and is very deeply in over his head. Its an enjoyable, interesting read from a master, although I still don't really care for the Harriet character (particularly in this book).
May 29, 2022
I love three day weekends - I can sit and read in huge chunks of time and really get into the story.
This one gives tons of information on both Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff - and a wonderful bibliography at the end.
The film detective is after a possible screen test of Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein's monster. If it exists he would love to bid on it for UCLA Film Department. As it turns out it appears his friend Craig Hunter may have found it and stolen it before he was killed, gansta style in San Diego.
Along with the history of the productions of Dracula and Frankenstein, we also learn about steampunk.
Wonderfully written and very easy to flow along with the plot.
I could do without Harriet, but otherwise this was a fun read.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
This one gives tons of information on both Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff - and a wonderful bibliography at the end.
The film detective is after a possible screen test of Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein's monster. If it exists he would love to bid on it for UCLA Film Department. As it turns out it appears his friend Craig Hunter may have found it and stolen it before he was killed, gansta style in San Diego.
Along with the history of the productions of Dracula and Frankenstein, we also learn about steampunk.
Wonderfully written and very easy to flow along with the plot.
I could do without Harriet, but otherwise this was a fun read.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
May 2, 2021
I am enjoying this series -- not deep, and some of the characters are a bit too self-consciously modern version of classic P.I.'s like Dashiell Hammet (though I am sure that is deliberate), but I love the way each book in the series is centered around an old film star or genre. In this case, the first horror films, with rivalries between actors like Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney and others. There is a lot of technical info too, for instance, early movies were called 'the silver screen' because there was literally silver in the film, which gave the moving pictures a luminous glow we don't see or expect in movies today.
April 29, 2024
This book had moments, and the set-up of a film detective is fantastic, but I just don't feel it delivered. Perhaps because cinema of the 30's-50's isn't my favorite, but I just felt like this never had real stakes. And the end, where the villain sort of clumsily explains his plan then is foiled, felt more at home in a Scooby Doo cartoon.
January 11, 2022
Another entry in the Valentino film detective series. In each outing, he looks for a rare piece of film history. In this case, he is trying to find a missing scree test of Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein's monster , that predates Boris Karloff's star making performance.
March 10, 2022
I sat to drink your blood
Third in the series based on the fact that Bella Lugosi tried out for the part of Frankenstein's monster. Our intrepid film detective seeks the actual reel. Still enjoying this series and intend to finish it.
Third in the series based on the fact that Bella Lugosi tried out for the part of Frankenstein's monster. Our intrepid film detective seeks the actual reel. Still enjoying this series and intend to finish it.
January 19, 2018
A tribute to the Frankenstein old and initial movie and the actors in it...
July 30, 2018
This was fine. I once again remember that I enjoy thrillers but straight crime fiction is not really my thing. The cinema trivia was fun.
July 27, 2019
Fun read for fans of old-school Universal horror, film buffs, and lovers of noir-type detective stories.
July 17, 2020
I don't know a lot about the movies then and now, but it was a hoot getting behind the scenes and the archives.
April 23, 2023
Fun book involving murder of a burned out actor in search of the Bela Lugosi’s screen test for the original role of Dr Frankenstein’s monster.
December 29, 2025
fun series, great cover art
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