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Even the Butler Was Poor: A Ben Spanner H. J. Mavity Mystery
H. J. Mavity, painter of paperback romance covers, has a perplexing riddle to solve when her ex-boyfriend, Rick Dell, collapses at her feet after telling her that the words "ninety-nine clop clop" hold the clue to a lot of money. Although Dell has clearly been murdered, H. J.'s avarice gets the better of her and she determines to risk the ire of whoever has killed Dell to go after the money. First, however, she must understand the riddle and who better to help her than her ex-husband, Ben Spanner, a gifted mimic whose voice is known to millions through TV and radio commercials. Ben knows just about every show business joke around and will surely be familiar with the routine of a hack stand-up comic like Dell. Ben is some¬what aggrieved to see H. J. again for he knows better than anyone else that she spells trouble. He comes through with the riddle to which "ninety-nine clop clop" is the solution but H. J.'s lingering attraction for him overcomes his common sense and he, too,is soon in pursuit of the stash Dell's clue points to—though more to protect H. J. than to feather his own nest.
Little does Ben suspect that H. J. has plans that don't include him. When a new job takes him to New York City to play the voice of an English muffin, H. J. takes the opportunity to slip away from his Connecticut home with the contents of Dell's hideaway. Ben, who thought he had convinced H. J. that their and should be turned over to the police, must now use all his ingenuity to save her from a desperate killer.
Little does Ben suspect that H. J. has plans that don't include him. When a new job takes him to New York City to play the voice of an English muffin, H. J. takes the opportunity to slip away from his Connecticut home with the contents of Dell's hideaway. Ben, who thought he had convinced H. J. that their and should be turned over to the police, must now use all his ingenuity to save her from a desperate killer.
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First published November 1, 1990
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About the author
Ron Goulart
603 books98 followersPseudonyms: Howard Lee; Frank S Shawn; Kenneth Robeson; Con Steffanson; Josephine Kains; Joseph Silva; William Shatner.
Ron Goulart is a cultural historian and novelist. Besides writing extensively about pulp fiction—including the seminal Cheap Thrills: An Informal History of Pulp Magazines (1972)—Goulart has written for the pulps since 1952, when the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction published his first story, a sci-fi parody of letters to the editor. Since then he has written dozens of novels and countless short stories, spanning genres and using a variety of pennames, including Kenneth Robeson, Joseph Silva, and Con Steffanson. In the 1990s, he became the ghostwriter for William Shatner’s popular TekWar novels. Goulart’s After Things Fell Apart (1970) is the only science-fiction novel to ever win an Edgar Award.
In the 1970s Goulart wrote novels starring series characters like Flash Gordon and the Phantom, and in 1980 he published Hail Hibbler, a comic sci-fi novel that began the Odd Jobs, Inc. series. Goulart has also written several comic mystery series, including six books starring Groucho Marx. Having written for comic books, Goulart produced several histories of the art form, including the Comic Book Encyclopedia (2004).
Ron Goulart is a cultural historian and novelist. Besides writing extensively about pulp fiction—including the seminal Cheap Thrills: An Informal History of Pulp Magazines (1972)—Goulart has written for the pulps since 1952, when the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction published his first story, a sci-fi parody of letters to the editor. Since then he has written dozens of novels and countless short stories, spanning genres and using a variety of pennames, including Kenneth Robeson, Joseph Silva, and Con Steffanson. In the 1990s, he became the ghostwriter for William Shatner’s popular TekWar novels. Goulart’s After Things Fell Apart (1970) is the only science-fiction novel to ever win an Edgar Award.
In the 1970s Goulart wrote novels starring series characters like Flash Gordon and the Phantom, and in 1980 he published Hail Hibbler, a comic sci-fi novel that began the Odd Jobs, Inc. series. Goulart has also written several comic mystery series, including six books starring Groucho Marx. Having written for comic books, Goulart produced several histories of the art form, including the Comic Book Encyclopedia (2004).
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 26, 2013
Did you hear the one about the guy who was late for a date with his girlfriend at the mall? He walks up to her, gasps "Ninety-nine clop clop!" then dies. The late boyfriend is now the really late boyfriend. Such is the opening for Ron Goulart's Even the Butler was Poor, a comic mystery with romance book cover artist HJ Mavity and her ex-husband, voice mimic Ben Spanner. Throughout this tale of murder, blackmail and ventriloquist dummies, Ben vacillates between Jiminy Cricket (the voice of conscience and reason) and Sir Galahad (shining knight to his ex-wife's damsel in distress), and he can actually do all the voices; HJ, on the other hand, is as constant as the North Star in being snide, conniving, greedy and just all around nasty...she's such a dear child that one almost weeps at the thought of her possible redemption at the end, but, fortunately, it's only a possibility, not a probability. As with many of Mr Goulart's other mysteries, the story is well infused with humor, wisecracking and old film references. It's a fun book and genuinely engrossing throughout. Since this is a classic mystery in the husband/wife sleuth genre (think Mr & Mrs North with speed, caffeine and separate beds) there are plenty of nods to the conventions of the genre -- playful banter, light-hearted gunplay, well-meaning but plodding coppers, and nick-of-time heroics, but all the red herrings in this mystery are actually Icelandic cod.
May 28, 2020
( Format : Audiobook )
"99 clop clop."
When H.J.'s date is late coming to the mall to return her money, she's surprised to see him, bloody and tortured, stagger and fall dead at her feet. But not before the erstwhile comic utters the immortal words, 99 clop clop. It seems to be a clue to the way to get her money back but nothing she could understand. Time to enlist the help of her two (or three) years divorced husband, a voice over artist who has his own store of jokes. Old grievances grow whilst romances reignite, as the unlikly, greedy sleuthing couple needle and squabble their way to the solution of the mystery, the ex husband constantly drawing on his repertoire of assorted voices in their cross conversations. Great fun and an interesting little mystery, too.
This was an interesting book for a narrator who not only had to read the story and give voice to the characters but also had to fulfill the multi accented voice artist's habit of using his talent throughout his conversations, mimicking known actors. In this, Clifton Satterfield was superb and all came together smoothly, fast paced and comedic. His reading was a delight, a fine performance which truly enhanced the indulgent pleasure of this book.
It's not the plot but the characters, and Clifton Satterfield's rendition of them, who make this story so enjoyable. I downloaded a complimentary copy of Even the Butler Was Poor (a delicious title I couldn't resist) freely and without any conditions or obligations, from FABC. My thanks to the rights holder for making it available at the press of a few buttons. This is a short, fun read and definitely recommended.
"99 clop clop."
When H.J.'s date is late coming to the mall to return her money, she's surprised to see him, bloody and tortured, stagger and fall dead at her feet. But not before the erstwhile comic utters the immortal words, 99 clop clop. It seems to be a clue to the way to get her money back but nothing she could understand. Time to enlist the help of her two (or three) years divorced husband, a voice over artist who has his own store of jokes. Old grievances grow whilst romances reignite, as the unlikly, greedy sleuthing couple needle and squabble their way to the solution of the mystery, the ex husband constantly drawing on his repertoire of assorted voices in their cross conversations. Great fun and an interesting little mystery, too.
This was an interesting book for a narrator who not only had to read the story and give voice to the characters but also had to fulfill the multi accented voice artist's habit of using his talent throughout his conversations, mimicking known actors. In this, Clifton Satterfield was superb and all came together smoothly, fast paced and comedic. His reading was a delight, a fine performance which truly enhanced the indulgent pleasure of this book.
It's not the plot but the characters, and Clifton Satterfield's rendition of them, who make this story so enjoyable. I downloaded a complimentary copy of Even the Butler Was Poor (a delicious title I couldn't resist) freely and without any conditions or obligations, from FABC. My thanks to the rights holder for making it available at the press of a few buttons. This is a short, fun read and definitely recommended.
March 25, 2021
This is another of Ron Goulart's tongue-in-cheek mysteries. This time, it's voice artist Ben Spanner (whose constant use of other people's voices would drive anyone crazy) and his ex-wife H.J. Mavity - painter of the covers for romance novels - whose morality is rather shaky. Her latest boyfriend was murdered, and somebody is after her now. Can the two of them stay civil and solve the case? Or even just survive, especially when her greed kicks in?
June 19, 2020
H J date was late, coming, as he falls and dies at her feet, he utters 99 clop clop, He owed her money was it a clue or what. She gets her ex to help her, he can’t refuse her. He specializes in voice over artist and has a lot of jokes. Amusing story that was added by the narration was good. Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
February 1, 2009
When an ex-boyfriend gives HJ a clue to a fortune shortly before he dies, the illustrator immediately involves her hapless ex-husband Ben, who specializes in doing voice-overs, in her quest for the money. Ben keeps suggesting they go to the police, but he can't resist HJ for long, and soon they're involved in blackmailing a sinister, murderous conspiracy. Short and amusing.
July 23, 2023
The pair of characters in this book is quite fun and they make some quite poor decisions in their pursuit of information. Certainly one of Goulart's stronger books.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews