Crazybone

Nameless Detective #26

by Bill Pronzini

Posh and affluent, a mecca for the horsy set, the California community of Greenwood hides its dirty laundry behind the stuccoed facades of Spanish-style houses and locks its secrets inside wrought-iron gates. Nameless knows that as well as 7 any, but he uncovers more deceit, adultery, fraud, and betrayal -- not to mention larceny and murder -- than he might have expected in this tautly concocted novel of crime and detection.Yet, even before Nameless visits the handsomely appointed offices of the blond, tanned insurance agent Rich Twining and the estate of the recently widowed Sheila Hunter, his private investigator's suspicions are raised. For why would anyone, however rich and beautiful and bereaved, refuse to claim fifty thousand dollars due in life insurance? The question is simple enough, but the answer lies several murders, many miles, ten years, a devious name game, and one baffling clue -- crazybone -- away.As always, Nameless proves himself the thinking man's detective (Chicago Sun-Times), and his creator, Bill Pronzini, keeps the suspenseful pages turning up to this uncanny novel's moment of revelation.

Genres: Mystery, Detective, Fiction

197 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2000

About the author

Mystery Writers of America Awards "Grand Master" 2008
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1999) for Boobytrap
Edgar Awards Best Novel nominee (1998) for A Wasteland of Strangers
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) for Sentinels
Shamus Awards "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) 1987
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1982) for Hoodwink

Married to author Marcia Muller.

Pseudonyms:
Robert Hart Davis (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Jack Foxx
William Jeffrey (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Alex Saxon

Reviews

[Lobstergirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Crazybone," whispers Sheila Hunter afraidily, as Nameless visits her to inquire why she hasn't claimed the $50,000 life insurance policy due her after her husband's fatal car accident. Hunter's ex-husband, we later find out, used to bang her with a ball-peen hammer on her elbows (many people will know this as the "funnybone") until she passed out from the pain. Sheila changed her identity ten years ago and moved across the country after stealing bearer bonds along with her ex-husband, sister and brother-in-law, and is terrified her past will catch up to her. Sheila's daughter Emily wants to be rescued by Nameless, but soon they both disappear. And lush Dale Cooney from the country club turns up dead in her garage. The whole bonds fraud is a red herring, though; Dale and later Sheila are murdered by horny skank insurance agent Richard Twining, who frankly just wanted to screw Sheila but got angry when she turned him down. It's not all bad news, though: with Emily now an orphan, she's free to be adopted by Nameless, his cat Shameless, and his wife Kerry, and everything wraps up like an ABC Afterschool Special.

Crazybone was published in 2000 (and actually has a few Bill Clinton references), but feels fifteen years older. The many disapproving references to fat are both startling, and quaint. A nurse is "big all over, more bone and muscle than fat - nearly six feet and a solid hundred and sixty pounds, with a chest that strained the front of her white blouse and probably required a D cup." A few pages later she "took her big hide out of there." Someone calls her a "side of beef" and later, "that fat cow." (For reference, the average American woman today weighs 170 lbs.) Another woman "weighed at least forty pounds more than she had on her wedding day, a lot of the extra poundage in bulging hips that rolled and wobbled inside a pair of jogger's sweatpants." Nameless interviews her husband who explains, "Nothing left between us, we weren't even screwing any more after she got so goddamn fat." When Nameless tracks down the killer, he's having sex with a "plump" woman. In case we missed it we're informed she has a "fat ass" and a "broad bottom." Nameless himself gets unsolicited advice from a complete stranger who advises him, "Get more exercise. Move those chubby buns of yours a mile or two every day....you don't need deli food. Yogurt and an apple's what you should be eating for lunch."

To compensate for the fat shaming, Nameless gets civic-minded about leaf-blowers. "Leaf blowers and back-up beepers are two of my pet peeves. Gross noise polluters, both, the intrusive kind that grate on your nerves after a while. If it were up to me, the inventors of both would be locked up in enclosed spaces with the things going nonstop until they either went deaf or admitted their sins and vowed to invent quieter replacements."

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another fine volume in the Nameless Detective Series, written by a consummate craftsman who knows how to balance humor and suspense, puzzles and thrills, convincing characters and vivid California atmosphere.

This particular plot involves two distinct mysteries: first, out hero is commissioned by an insurance company to investigate why widow Sheila Hunter refuses to collect on her husband’s insurance policy (“inconsistent behavior in policy holders bothers” them) and, two, Nameless’ mother-in-law Cybil—a mystery writer—is convinced that the death of her gentleman friend Captain Archie, who lived in her seniors complex, is suspicious.

Sheila Hunter immediately excites Nameless’ suspicions, for the woman is obviously terrified of something. And his internet guru and researcher Tamara discovers that, before their last ten years in Greenwood, there is no evidence that Sheila or her husband ever existed. Beside, Nameless is worried about their young daughter Emily. She has something she wishes to confide in him, but her mother frantically intervenes.

The novel builds slowly, as the detective investigates both cases, but the novel eventually reaches an exciting and satisfying conclusion. And by the adventure’s end, Nameless and his wife Kerry have learned a new lesson about love, commitment, and responsibility.

[The Shayne-Train · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Nameless story, with a two-for pair of cases to solve!

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a list of all the books (in order) Happy Reading.

1971 The Snatch Random House
1973 The Vanished Random House
1973 Undercurrents Random House
1977 Blowback Ramdom House
1978 Twospot Putman
1980 Laybrinth St. Martin's Press
1980 A Killing In Xanadu Waves Press
1981 Hoodwinked St. Martin's Press
1982 Scattershot St. Martin's Press
1982 Dragonfire St. Martin's Press
1983 Bindlestiff St. Martin's Press
1983 Casefile St. Martin's Press
1984 Quicksilver St. Martin's Press
1984 Nightshades St. Martin's Press
1984 Double St. Martin's Press
1985 Bones St. Martin's Press
1985 Grave Yard Plots St. Martin's Press
1886 Dreadfall St. Martin's Press
1988 Shackles St. Martin's Press
1988 Small Fellonies St. Martin's Press
1990 Jackpot Delacorte
1991 Breakdown Delacorte
1992 Quarry Delacorte
1992 Epitaths Delacorte
1993 Demons Delacorte
1995 Hardcase Delacorte
1996 Spadework Crippen & Landru
1996 Sentinels Carroll & Graf
1997 Illusions Carroll & Graf
1998 Boobytrap Carroll & Graf
1999 Sluths Five Star
1999 Duo Five Star
2000 Crazybones Carroll & Graf
2002 Bleeders Carroll & Graf
2003 Spook Carroll & Graf
2003 Scenarios Five Star
2005 Nightcrawlers Forge
2006 Mourners Forge
2007 Savages Forge
2008 Feaver Forge
2009 Schemers Forge
2010 Betrayers Forge
2011 Camouflage Forge
2012 Hellbox Forge
2012 Kinsmen Cemetery Dance
2012 Femme Cemetery Dance
2013 Nemesis Forge

[Grey853 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably would've liked this book a lot better if I hadn't started out being so perturbed by the whole premise. The idea is Nameless is hired by an insurance company to investigate a woman because she doesn't want the $50,000 insurance claim for her husband. That didn't seem real and put me off because what insurance company is going to do that?

He continues to investigate despite the woman's protests and pleas. She's obviously afraid, and because of his investigation a whole chain of very negative things happen. In the end, he and Kerry take the orphaned Emily. I figure after what happened after his interference, it's the least he can do.

So, even though I liked how twisty and well-written the book was, I was still too aggravated by the plot to give it a four.

[John Grazide · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nameless can't get a break. A "routine" insurance investigation turns bad. And the fact that the insurance investigation included a recipient who didn't want the money should have been an eye opener. But as the bodies start to pile up (as they do) Nameless uncovers the couples questionable past, and exposes the family as selfish uncaring jerks. And the affluent town where all this takes place has some secrets of it's own. And at the bottom of all this is a 10 year old girl who is now alone. What will Nameless do? What will Kerry do?

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

In preparation for our latest visit to California, I turned to Bill Pronzini for another mystery set in the Golden State. Led by an honest investigator from a reputable insurance company, the action proceeds from a Sales Agent's office into the community where a widow has refused to accept $50,000 after her husband's death. Why would anyone turn down that much money?

[James S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good start and professional writing are spoiled by Pronzini's portrayal of Tamara, Nameless's young and hip assistant. His attempt to convey her black dialect is awkward in the extreme, and nothing about her seems real in the slightest. I stopped reading at this point.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read 2013

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time I've read this author going solo. Interesting character in the "Nameless Detective." Fun read.

[D. Norman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many characters and after names changed halfway through it was a little hard to follow the plot. It will be interesting to see how the future unfolds for Nameless and Kerry.

[Thomas]

3 1/2 stars for no name detective.

[Michael Ball]

Next on my P.l. reading list! Why? Nameless Detective sounds like Walter Mosley & Fearless Jones. I am starting with Crazybone because it appeals to my funnybone sans ball peen hammer..

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#26 in the Nameless Detective series.

Nameless Detective series - An insurance company hires Nameless to check into why Sheila Hunter, a glamorous widow with a small daughter, declined to accept the payout on her late husband's sudden accidental death policy. It turns out that Sheila has her own very good reasons for wanting to remain as anonymous as possible. What to do with her appealing little girl seems her main concern. Nameless finds himself involved more deeply than he wants to be when the woman disappears and the child has no one else to turn to. Meanwhile, the elderly neighbor of his feisty mother-in-law dies mysteriously at their retirement home, and what can he do about that?

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: Nameless Detective
SETTING: California
SERIES: #29 of 44
RATING: 3.25
WHY: Jack Hunter was killed in an accident, and his widow, Sheila, has refused to accept the $50,000 settlement from the insurance company. Nameless is hired to try to convince her to take it; it seems odd that she would refuse, even if she claims to be rich. She has an 11-year-old daughter, Emily. Nameless suspects that there are things in the Hunters' past that they don't want uncovered. Finding the answer to that question is quite complicated. Even more so is the future of Emily Hunter. Pronzini is my comfort read; even if every book isn't fantastic, they are all good.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 2000, this title in the Nameless Detective series marked something of a turn in our hero's life and career. It all starts out with Nameless investigating for his insurance company client why a beneficiary of a life policy REFUSES to accept the pay out. Bizarre indeed. Before long, he runs across a pair of sisters with a paranoid fear of the odd term "crazybone". The plot twists figure in quite neatly, the writing remains taut and vivid, while the breezy dialogue sweeps you along. A fun read, CRAZYBONE diverted me on a winter night with the winds blasting away.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual one in which Nameless is asked to investigate a widow who refuses her husband's insurance payout. Gets really strange with the country club set and there is also a suspicious death at his mother-in-law's retirement community to look into as well. Ending was a surprise and didn't seem to flow.

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Good; Continuing character: "Nameless" detective; trying to pay off an insurance claim, the detective finds a widow whose past ends ten years prior and digs to find out how he may be able to help her and her daughter.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read from Pronzini. Again he crafts an intriguing mystery. And it looks as though the Nameless Detective is going to have some changes in his life. I almost want to go right to the next book, but need to read some of them piled on the table first!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Pronzini I read. Good Detective, good story.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Bill Pronzini book I read. Crazybone introduced me to the Nameless Detective. Great character.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out really great, then kind of went slowly to a blah ending. But at the same time I enjoyed it :) go figure.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nameless is not made of stone

[Carol Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really upset me when it described what crazybone ment. wow Pronzini did it again.

[Eliana]

Old style detective series with excellent writing, plots and characters throughout

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad I read it. If only he didn't hate fat women so much.

[David Sikora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entry into the series is just as good as the other ones. One thing with these books is that I try to guess the outcome, but I am usually wrong. And that, is what keeps me coming back for more.

[Harry Addington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent mystery with one of my favorite PI's. Life change results.