Devil on My Doorstep

The Rockford Files #2

by Stuart M. Kaminsky

Jim Rockford finds himself entangled in a dangerous mess when a seventeen-year-old girl claiming to be his daughter shows up on his doorstep and asks for his help in discovering what has happened to her mother, who she thinks may have been killed by her stepfather.

Genres: Mystery

304 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1998

About the author

Stuart M. Kaminsky wrote 50 published novels, 5 biographies, 4 textbooks and 35 short stories. He also has screenwriting credits on four produced films including ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, ENEMY TERRITORY, A WOMAN IN THE WIND and HIDDEN FEARS. He was a past president of the Mystery Writers of America and was nominated for six prestigious Edgar Allen Poe Awards including one for his short story “Snow” in 1999. He won an Edgar for his novel A COLD RED SUNRISE, which was also awarded the Prix De Roman D’Aventure of France. He was nominated for both a Shamus Award and a McCavity Readers Choice Award.

Kaminsky wrote several popular series including those featuring Lew Fonesca, Abraham Lieberman, Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, and Toby Peters. He also wrote two original "Rockford Files " novels. He was the 50th annual recipient of the Grandmaster 2006 for Lifetime Achievement from the Mystery Writers of America.

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievement award) in 2007.

His nonfiction books including BASIC FILMMAKING, WRITING FOR TELEVISION, AMERICAN FILM GENRES, and biographies of GARY COOPER, CLINT EASTWOOD, JOHN HUSTON and DON SIEGEL. BEHIND THE MYSTERY was published by Hot House Press in 2005 and nominated by Mystery Writers of America for Best Critical/Biographical book in 2006.

Kaminsky held a B.S. in Journalism and an M.A. in English from The University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in Speech from Northwestern University where he taught for 16 years before becoming a Professor at Florida State. where he headed the Graduate Conservatory in Film and Television Production. He left Florida State in 1994 to pursue full-time writing.

Kaminsky and his wife, Enid Perll, moved to St. Louis, Missouri in March 2009 to await a liver transplant to treat the hepatitis he contracted as an army medic in the late 1950s in France. He suffered a stroke two days after their arrival in St. Louis, which made him ineligible for a transplant. He died on October 9, 2009.

Reviews

[Karl]

This hardcover copy of "Devil On My Doorstep" is signed by Stuart M. Kaminsky.

[Steve Aldous · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kaminsky delivers a thoroughly competent novel based on the popular ’70s TV show The Rockford Files, or more accurately the ’90s revival TV movies – the period in which this story is set. This is the second of two novels Kaminsky wrote featuring private eye Jim Rockford, the first being The Green Bottle in 1996. The author is obviously a connoisseur of the series and gets the characterisations of the regulars spot on. Whilst relaying the story in the first person is par for the genre, it is an interesting approach given the series was not geared that way. It gives us the opportunity to see everything that happens in this convoluted tale through Rockford’s eyes. The approach works very well in keeping the reader hooked on the mystery elements as Rockford plays off the gangsters and the Feds as he tries to discover the truth about the disappearance of an old flame and the girl who claims to be his daughter. Whilst the plot feels a little overplayed at times the writing is good and the dialogue entertaining – notably the banter between Rockford and con-man Angel. Kaminsky also introduces an eccentric assassin who quotes classic poetry. The rest of the gangster plot is standard stuff. It’s a shame Kaminsky’s series stalled after just two books – for whatever reason – as Rockford is one of the most engaging modern private eyes and the charisma of James Garner from the TV series bleeds through onto the written page.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of "The Rockford Files" will likely enjoy this incarnation of Jim Rockford, former convict turned private eye. This time around, Rockford discovers a young teenage girl on the patio outside his Malibu eyesore of a mobile home. She gives him a letter indicating that she is his daughter from a romance long ago.. She's also, in a great deal of trouble involving the mob, some U.S. marshals, an abusive stepfather, and Rockford's long lost love. In the meanwhile, Angel, Rockford's former cell mate and constant thorn in Rockford's side, is involved in a painting scam. Angel was always one of my favorite characters on the television program, as his amoral approach to friendship with Rockford always added amusing plot complications.

There are some odd characters sprinkled throughout this novel. A mob enforcer is a soft-spoken fellow who tends to spout poetry, though at times it feels as if Kaminsky is trying a bit too hard to get it to fit in. The U.S. Marshals have complimentary last names (put the two names together and you get the name of a 1960's actor) and that added to some comical moments. As usual, there is a great deal of double-dealing, scamming, and impersonation going on, as well as a body that keeps showing in and disappearing from various car trunks. Rockford's neighbors continue to be annoying and Rockford moves to assist one of them who has been caught up in a scam...

Overall, I enjoyed this book a great deal. Usually, print versions of a television\movie property are bit a poor shadow of the actual property itself. Kaminsky does an excellent job of re-creating the characters and the tone of the television series.

Apparently, I re-read this one. I'm getting old enough I didn't really remember it, but enjoyed it just as much as the first time.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most TV novelizations are pretty lame, but Devil on My Doorstep was the exception to the rule. Kaminsky captured the feel of the Rockford files AND wrote a compelling mystery. Good stuff!

[Stephen Wrigley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable as a fan of the TV Series. Good character development and pace.

[Charlie Eckhaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraging opening reminiscent of the best episodes of the series and the TV-movie reprises.

I was enormously pleased. It goes far beyond expectations for a tv series tie-in, with a reasonably complex plot that managed not to challenge my not-so-hot attention span. Empathized with even some of the bad guys. Some groundwork seems to have been laid for new characters who would almost certainly have been recurring in subsequent novels, had there been any. Sad that Kaminsky passed away before going further with Rockford.

Bouyed by convincing portrayals of Becker, Diehl, Angel, and (slightly) Beth.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know,for sure, I hadn't read this Kaminskhy. It is a Rockford Files book.
Got to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the edging nature of Rockford and his tenacious, ner'do'well approach to
clothes and life.
you'd think Toby Peters and Rockford were related... oh yeah, they
are, via Kaminsky.
However, I do like the World War II nature of Toby Peters and the movie stars of that era.
It appears I like whatever Kaminsky writes.
and you got to love the Lieberman books with Maish taunting the Rabbi vis a vis God....
Maish believes in God and hates him.
Fascinating theology.

[Ken French · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the Rockford Files and was very pleased to discover Stuart Kaminsky's two Rockford novels. He definitely had a feel for the character and creates a believable situation for him.

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not demanding but fun.
Could picture James Garner and the rest of the characters from Rockford Files.