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Fiddler and Fiora Mystery #1
Just Another Day in Paradise
“A. E. Maxwell wrote one of the smartest, most consistent PI series in recent memory. Big plots, great villains, and a kickass private eye with plenty of humanity. The toughness of Robert B. Parker’s early Spenser novels blended with the wry humor and scope of Ross Thomas. Wholly original, endlessly entertaining. The books of A. E. Maxwell are a forgotten treasure.”—Tim Maleeny
Back in print for the first time in fifteen years, the first thriller featuring failed violinist-turned-private investigator Fiddler and his beautiful banker ex-wife Fiora. Fiora needs Fiddler’s help when her twin brother’s smuggling operation might get him killed.
Back in print for the first time in fifteen years, the first thriller featuring failed violinist-turned-private investigator Fiddler and his beautiful banker ex-wife Fiora. Fiora needs Fiddler’s help when her twin brother’s smuggling operation might get him killed.
250 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
44 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
A.E. Maxwell
18 books20 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
(1)
collaboration of Ann Maxwell and Evan Maxwell
also aka Lowell Charters, Elizabeth Lowell, and Annalise Sun
(1)
collaboration of Ann Maxwell and Evan Maxwell
also aka Lowell Charters, Elizabeth Lowell, and Annalise Sun
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 8, 2023
When Fiddler's ex-wife Fiora comes to ask his help with her twin brother Danny, Fiddler is quick to offer. After all, she's the only woman he has ever loved despite the fact that they couldn't work out living together.
While Fiora is a financial genius, Danny is more of a screw-up who's always certain that the next scheme will be the one to lead to riches. This time he's in way over his head when he partners to export technology to the Eastern Block even though he knows he'll be smuggling.
It isn't only the Russians who want the chip technology. The Vietnamese are also interested but mostly to prevent Russia from succeeding. Between the Russian dating Fiora and the Vietnamese woman dating Danny, both factions are hoping to keep track of their subjects. But then Danny is killed, and the last crucial piece of the factory goes missing.
Fiora is kidnapped by Danny's partner, the Russian spy she's been dating, and Fiddler needs to find the last piece of the factory they are to smuggle out and trade it for Fiora's life. Both the US Customs and the FBI are also involved and each have their own agenda.
Fiddler comes up with a complicated scheme to get Fiora back without letting the missing piece of equipment fall into enemy hands.
The story was fast-paced and exciting but a dated. The ethnic slurs and attitudes toward homosexuals were a little bit jarring. However, Fiddler was a fascinating character with a strong sense of honor and a really twisty mind. He's a man with perfect pitch who gave up playing the violin because he couldn't produce the perfection he heard in his mind. It was intriguing the way he related the activities of the plot to various sorts of musical forms.
This is the first of an eight-book series.
While Fiora is a financial genius, Danny is more of a screw-up who's always certain that the next scheme will be the one to lead to riches. This time he's in way over his head when he partners to export technology to the Eastern Block even though he knows he'll be smuggling.
It isn't only the Russians who want the chip technology. The Vietnamese are also interested but mostly to prevent Russia from succeeding. Between the Russian dating Fiora and the Vietnamese woman dating Danny, both factions are hoping to keep track of their subjects. But then Danny is killed, and the last crucial piece of the factory goes missing.
Fiora is kidnapped by Danny's partner, the Russian spy she's been dating, and Fiddler needs to find the last piece of the factory they are to smuggle out and trade it for Fiora's life. Both the US Customs and the FBI are also involved and each have their own agenda.
Fiddler comes up with a complicated scheme to get Fiora back without letting the missing piece of equipment fall into enemy hands.
The story was fast-paced and exciting but a dated. The ethnic slurs and attitudes toward homosexuals were a little bit jarring. However, Fiddler was a fascinating character with a strong sense of honor and a really twisty mind. He's a man with perfect pitch who gave up playing the violin because he couldn't produce the perfection he heard in his mind. It was intriguing the way he related the activities of the plot to various sorts of musical forms.
This is the first of an eight-book series.
August 26, 2023
Well that didn't age well (better perhaps in the 1980s when hype and bluster was a national pastime).
There is no substance, no characterization, the plot is minimal and full of holes, and the protagonist
is the most competent man his ex wife knows. He agrees. He proves it by knowing a whole lot about a number of things of little importance and by having perfect pitch. This allows him to hear symphonic vibrations when considering the where and how. It also caused him to end his career as a world class violinist (before it apparently got started) back when he wasn't smuggling dope or working for a newspaper or as a PI or whatever. He is also independently wealthy because his ex is a financial genius. Lucky him. Consider this a story of LA LA Land with a bit of silicon valley and Vietnamese stereotypes mixed in.
There is no substance, no characterization, the plot is minimal and full of holes, and the protagonist
is the most competent man his ex wife knows. He agrees. He proves it by knowing a whole lot about a number of things of little importance and by having perfect pitch. This allows him to hear symphonic vibrations when considering the where and how. It also caused him to end his career as a world class violinist (before it apparently got started) back when he wasn't smuggling dope or working for a newspaper or as a PI or whatever. He is also independently wealthy because his ex is a financial genius. Lucky him. Consider this a story of LA LA Land with a bit of silicon valley and Vietnamese stereotypes mixed in.
August 5, 2018
Not sure what was wrong here but didn't relate to the character. Could be that I'd just reread A Deadly Shade of Gold, John D MacDonald's Travis McGee story. the relationship mirrored one in that story and MacDonald did a much better job of explaining a relationship where two people are massively attracted to each other but incapable of being together.
L.A. Times blurb on front cover says give Travis McGee a real run for his money...not even close, pale imitation
L.A. Times blurb on front cover says give Travis McGee a real run for his money...not even close, pale imitation
May 8, 2021
I liked this book because i could read a few chapters each day and look forward to reading each day. I could separate the personalities of each character and the situations that were unfolding. I consider this an Action book and would recommend to those simply looking for a good book!
June 26, 2021
Very enjoyable
Love the relationship between fiddler and Fiore. Very very good story. Read them years ago and they still hold up.
Love the relationship between fiddler and Fiore. Very very good story. Read them years ago and they still hold up.
March 4, 2017
Enjoyed this first book in a new private eye husband and ex wife series . Moved along at a swift pace with plenty of action
July 8, 2008
JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE - Ex
Maxwell, A.E. - 1st in Fiddler and Fiora Series
Fiddler wasn't born to be a private eye. He isn't in the game for money; he has plenty of that. He isn't trying to prove he's sexy or tough; that comes naturally. He's just trying to get off his numb butt and even the score for people who deserve a decent break.
Like Fiddler's honey-blond ex-wife, Fiora. She's a woman as at home in a boardroom as in a bikini. Unfortunately, she never felt at home with Fiddler-except in the bedroom.
Now lovely Fiora's in ugly trouble. Her lover's playing hide-and-seek with U.S. Customs. Her twin brother's working a shady deal on the dark side of Southern California's Gold Coast. And Fiddler and his ex-ladylove are about to find out why snow, ice, and silicon are three surefire ways to get yourself dead!
Okay, I love this series. Written by husband and wife pair Ann and Evan Maxwell, it just works.
Maxwell, A.E. - 1st in Fiddler and Fiora Series
Fiddler wasn't born to be a private eye. He isn't in the game for money; he has plenty of that. He isn't trying to prove he's sexy or tough; that comes naturally. He's just trying to get off his numb butt and even the score for people who deserve a decent break.
Like Fiddler's honey-blond ex-wife, Fiora. She's a woman as at home in a boardroom as in a bikini. Unfortunately, she never felt at home with Fiddler-except in the bedroom.
Now lovely Fiora's in ugly trouble. Her lover's playing hide-and-seek with U.S. Customs. Her twin brother's working a shady deal on the dark side of Southern California's Gold Coast. And Fiddler and his ex-ladylove are about to find out why snow, ice, and silicon are three surefire ways to get yourself dead!
Okay, I love this series. Written by husband and wife pair Ann and Evan Maxwell, it just works.
July 30, 2023
This is an unusual book. It's greatest characteristic is its portrayal of a segment of southern California elite society in the 60s. While an enjoyable read, the main character's seems to be more adept at being stylish than at dealing with the crises at hand. The book builds to a climax that is less satisfying than the anticipation that led up to it.
Still, the characters and their relationships were sufficiently novel and interesting that I read two more books in this series. At his point I got tired of the author's propensity to make his protagonist unintelligently plod along until being forced into a lone encounter with the enemy.
Still, the characters and their relationships were sufficiently novel and interesting that I read two more books in this series. At his point I got tired of the author's propensity to make his protagonist unintelligently plod along until being forced into a lone encounter with the enemy.
November 27, 2014
I love this series. The main characters are divorced but still very much in love. The mysteries are clever, and the love story fantastic. Fiona is strong and feminine, Fiddler alpha and hot. And did I mention there's an all time great dog? I would highly recommend the entire series, start from the beginning. These were written by a husband and wife team who write by themselves under the names of Ann Maxwell aka Elizabeth Lowell and Evan Maxwell. I don't know why they stopped writing these books but I wish there were more.
August 29, 2011
Supposedly the West Coast's answer to Robert Parker...I don't know about that...decent plot, OK asides, both personal and cultural and OK characters...I will read one more to see if we can get up to parker's standards
January 16, 2013
Liked it. A little unusual coming from the man's point of view but I got used to it. The plot was complicated enough to keep me interested. The relationship part was a little dry but I believe there is a sequel.
September 20, 2016
1980s Southern California and Silicon Valley, private-investigator, noir mystery. I really enjoyed it when it was first released in the mid-1980s. It's weathered the time fairly well. It's a bit dated, and some scenes are drawn out too long to try to build tension.
October 11, 2012
I enjoyed this book and the following in the series. The characters and their relationships were intriguing.
June 17, 2012
It is an ok beginning. I love this author writing as Elizabeth Lowell so I will read another and hope the series grows and lives up to my expectations of her style.
March 10, 2016
Enough to keep my interest.
April 4, 2017
This was originally written in 1985 and reads (to me, at least) like an 80’s tv show like Magnum P.I. I’m glad the author(s) didn’t try to “update” it when they released the ebook format because there’s a certain kind of charm/nostalgia to the whole thing. The characters have to find pay phones to make phone calls and the plot involves selling computer chips to Russians back when the Vietnam War was not just something in the history books. Add in a tough guy who likes classical music and loves his ex-wife but just can’t live with her and I ate this up. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
October 23, 2018
Looking out his window, Fiddler can't help thinking that California's Gold Coast is pretty damn close to Paradise, even if that is a clich. But he's about to catch a glimpse of the shady side of this sun-drenched Eden, thanks to his ex-wife Fiora, a honey-blonde with a body that won't quit and a mind to match. Even though Fiora's sheets are being warmed by an utterly charming European these days, there are still plenty of times she wants Fiddler by her side. Like when a couple of agents from the U.S. Customs Department start grilling her about the Silicon Valley export business owned by her suddenly unavailable-for-comment twin brother. Danny's into electronicsthe kind that come in miniature chipsbut it seems he's also been dabbling in other, more dangerous, enterprises. With Fiora's soft spot for her twin offset by Fiddler's hard head and matching muscles, the pair swing into action, knowing they don't have much time to save Danny from the feds, from his enemies and, most of all, from himself.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews