All Over But the Shooting

by Richard Pitts Powell

Fifteen minutes after Arab Blake joined her husband Andy in Washington, she managed to get him conked into insensibility. And the moment he rose from the sidewalk he found himself entangled in a spine-tingling spyhunt!

The trail led to the strange house on Q Street from which War Department workers vanished into thin air. It took Andy to a barricaded cellar from which he escaped by pretending to be a corpse.

And it brought him finally to a secret radio sending station on a deserted strip of New Jersey coast, where anything could happen—and plenty did!

As usual, the lid is off whenever lovely Arab Blake is on the loose. And in All Over But the Shooting —a riotous mystery novel if ever there was one—Arab actually surpasses her past achievements!

Paperback

First published January 1, 1944

Reviews

[Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book mixes snappy patter and droll humor with romance between husband and wife who are heartfully in love. This light, amusing writing can shift to gripping tension and back again. The contrast makes this a wonderful read. I think seeing this as strong Arab and weak Andy, while certainly part of the amusing plot, misses the point. Arab folds when facing power and Andy steps up to go toe-to-toe with terrible, powerful opponent. Recommended.

[Nannette Serra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great memoir book and one of best writers around. Maybe it is because I'm Southern and I identify with Rick Bragg that his books are some of the few I can actually say "I didn't want to put it down." A must read for Southerners and for those who are fascinated with the South.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining for many reasons - the inimitable period detail of life in WWII Washington DC, the well crafted plot, and the odd contrast between a strong female and a weak male lead (doubly remarkable for a book published in the 1940's).