Final Notice

Harry Stoner Mystery #2

by Jonathan Valin

1st Keyhole 1982 edition paperback vg book In stock shipped from our UK warehouse

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Detective

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Jonathan Valin is an American mystery author best known for the Harry Stoner detective series. He won the Shamus Award for best mystery novel of 1989. After writing eleven Harry Stoner novels over a 14-year period, he took a break from mystery writing to help found Fi, a magazine of music criticism. He now works as an editor and reviewer for magazines.

He is an alumnus of the University of Chicago and lived there for many years.

Reviews

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second in the Harry Stoner detective series is perhaps not quite as good as the first. Harry and his new love interest, Library security officer Kate Davis are just a little too cute together, and the old lady librarians—particularly the amateur astrologer Miss Moselle—are a little too cute as well. Still, its a mystery with a good plot to follow, an intriguing puzzle to solve, and a suspenseful conclusion to be thrilled by. In addition, it has—at least for me—an additional pleasure: like the other Harry Stoner mysteries, it is set in my hometown, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Harry Stoner has been hired by the Hamilton County Library to stop the defacing of art books at its Hyde Park Branch. Pictures of female sculptures and women in paintings are being cut up, their breasts and sex organs removed. Harry and pretty Kate Davis are both a concerned, of course. But then Harry does research and uncovers a case from a few years ago, the murder of a girl named Twyla Belton, who not only was cut up in much the same way but used to patronize the Hyde Park Branch. Soon Harry and Kate are on the trail of the Hyde Park Ripper in a case that will not only strain their budding relationship but may put their very lives in danger.

Give it a try. Valin writes excellent prose, and is very good on atmosphere, minor characters, and suspense. Besides, it takes place in Cincinnati, Ohio. What more could anyone want?

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second novel in Valin’s Harry Stoner private eye series set in Cincinnati, Ohio, our valiant intrepid detective takes on the case of the library vandals. Well, as you might be familiar with the broken window theory that if you let things go, criminals feel free to do what they want, the crimes here did not stop with vandalizing art books in a library. But, in any case, Harry is hired by the head librarian to track down whoever has been taking a pruning shears to rare art books.

The opening of the book is quite amusing as Harry narrates how the service desk hadn’t changed since the suburban libraries were just plaster walls, wood shelving, and quiet signs. “They were still little old ladies in floral print dresses and high-topped shoes, wearing too much lipstick or none at all. Wispy gray-heads meant to lean together and gossip,” we are told. They all looked on as Harry went to Leon Ringold’s office where Harry meets Leon, who had all the makings of a “tetchy one,” and was one of “those angry little men who’ve never forgiven the rest of the world for looking down on them, as if a man’s stature were purely a matter of height.” Valin’s writing has such wonderful descriptions.

Harry ends up tag-teaming his work with Kate Davis, who was hired to do the library security and is sort of being replaced by Harry. Harry though finds that Kate is not like the little old ladies at the reception desk and is in fact quite pretty with a nice figure and becomes his partner in sleuthing and his romantic foil as well, replacing Jo the waitress from the Lime Pit, who disappeared into thin air towards the end of that book.

Of course, though, the story is not all about what happens between the library stacks and it is another journey by Harry through that dark underbelly of Cincinnati and the lowlife scum who are hiding in plain sight in the various trailer parks and corners.

[Jim A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Harry Stoner novel starts out with Harry being hired by the city librarian to find out who has been defacing the library's art books. This soon morphs into an investigation of a two year old murder case, something more worthy of Stoner's talents.

I really enjoyed my memories of the librarians of years past. The 'keep it quiet in here' type we of my generation all remember. The interaction between the ladies and Harry alone make this book worth the read.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a soft spot for an '80's PI series. No cell phones, got to stop and find a phone... Valin ( a Shamus winner) gives you a good look at and a feel of Cincinnati in 1980. This is the second Harry Stoner tale, and I will read and find his others cases.

[Joe Nicholl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the first Harry Stoner book The Lime Pit and I recommend it...But the second book of the series, Final Notice, is not very good. Nothing happens in the first half of the book other than a lame, flat-as-a-pancake romance. The second half picks up a little with a well written fight scene between Stoner and a bad guy in a barn. The only problem is the bad guy was three connections removed from the main plot and really had nothing to do with the rest of the book. The remainder played out by-the-numbers...I already have Stoner #3, Dead Letter, downloaded so I'll read it one of these days. I hope it's better than Final Notice (Harry Stoner, #2)...2.0 outta 5.0...

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another fun mystery in the Harry Stoner series. This book was written in the early 80s and the lack of political correctness was refreshing.

[Bill Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's rare that I read two books by the same author back-to-back, but it does give a slightly different insight. Missing was the last in the series and this the second. Final Notice is more lively and even humorous, before descending into brutal murders. There can't be many private eye books that start with 'our hero' being hired to stop person unknown from defacing art books in the local library. This section is gentle, amusing and very un-private eye. At the library he meets young Kate Davis who is also on duty to protect the books, but doesn't have the confidence of the librarian. All very twee. But then Harry connects to a murder, enters the drug world of Cincinnati, meets a body-building murderous drug dealer and criminal profiler. It's a bit of a mix and the plot is rather predictable, and yet I enjoyed it. Valin writes with skill and keeps the story going at a decent lick so a pleasurable page turner. I will continue picking up old copies and seeing how his style developed and how Harry Stoner found his way to the final book.

[Ritch Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just got into the Harry Stoner mystery series and they are solid so far. Harry has a courageous heart and a point of view that makes him fun to spend time with as he winds his way through the queen city. HE visits interesting locals and meets colorful characters and he always gets his man. This second book is better than the first and more sensational by far. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Harry as he finds new love, and chases a deadly killer. Harry is less of a loner in this book as he gets a partner and works with the police a lot in the final chapters. These books tend to start a little slow, they come to a racing finish. This time HArry is tracking a vandal who has defaced library books, but this mystery is much deeper than that, and he is soon on the trail of a vicious killer. I look forward to reading more in the series.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of a 10-mystery/detective binge in five weeks. Picked up a bunch at a used-book store that took trade-ins. Had a list I'd compiled (mostly from WSJ or The New Yorker) and carried around looking for used copies. Still have the list . . . haven't found them all yet.

As far as I remember, my first "Harry Stoner" mystery. This one is about a killer and art books. Harry is a cross between Lew Archer and Travis McGee. Good character, good plot.

[John Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outline previusly heard. Library audible.
Harry Stoner private detective. Leon Ringold, in charge of library, paying HS privately to handle library book defamation because he had no confidence in Kate Davis hired by county that Leon says was hired because affirmative action. HS lets Kate know the score and Kate is supported by the little old lady libriarians.
She was perfect. She smelled of toothpaste, talc, and something sweeter than lilacs. And in that crazy season of autumn, when Cincinnati was ablaze in the blood-red color of fall, Kate Davis made Harry Stoner feel old, and a little in love too. But for Harry Stoner those were only two more reasons that Kate shouldn't have anything more to do with this case. Because what had started with a twisted act of vandalism in the local library had led Kate and Harry, paired together, on a twisting path to a brutal, unsolved murder and to a pumped-up, speeded-up psycho. Now the May-December thing has to stop. The man Harry and Kate are after was using the cut-up pictures of women to tell the whole world what he intended to do. The last thing he needs is the perfect girl to do it to.
KD third degree brown belt karate. Starts off baiting perp.

HS finds out from DA office friend George Debreeze and help from police Al Foster. Gets name murdered girl Belton Tuilla, Bat in private and cut. Murfer at over pass. Find list of suspects from people who took art books out and cut them. Found book cut that Belton Tuilla borrowed. Police shrink suggested possble charactistics including a tatoo. Art teacher teacher show Tuilla art work including a piece of an arm with a distinctive tatoo that fit the profile.
HS abd KD partner up. Both Harry and Kate have their hungover moments. HS and KD get it on as well. Old lady said in the stars.

Find suspects on initial list. First old guy Leo Sachs not possible at all. KD thinks killer saw Tuilla at the library.


Lon Eamons shows art work, fine arts.
New list, No memory ofseeing tatoos but not seen forearm, Gerald Arnold religious symbols;Haskell Lord, Capacorn failed to return books,; Isaac Mills, tooth bush moustache also final notice to return book; Lester Town, lost job worded for coriners office . All have some aspect of looked for traits.

Then checks out the suspects. Gerald a converted druggie etc. Then Noris Reeves a pusher—speed, brother of Haskell's older girlfriend Effy Reeves, tried to kill HS and then he got directions to Effy Reeves and Haskell had made a run for it. Both murdered in trailer home. Haskell had brother Jacob.
Then HS checks out Gerald Arnold and he helps out checking Lestor Town now Part of motorcycle gang.
Next HS chases and follows Jacob with the help of all involved assistance library staff. Then all the other suspects become helpers.
Turns out the murderer was Jacob and mother in her heart knew but believed him ok. Jacob kidnaps Kate and then found her cut but ok.

[Wayne Zurl · Rating 4 out of 5]

FINAL NOTICE by Jonathan Valin

Cincinnati is neither the biggest nor the baddest town in the country, but it has plenty of action to keep the police busy. When you need a private cop in Cincinnati to look for a missing person, follow a cheating spouse, or in the case of FINAL NOTICE find the culprit who’s mutilating expensive art books in a branch library, you call Harry Stoner.

Harry is not your stereotypical hardboiled private eye. Yes, he is a former cop who decided he’d rather work for himself, but he’s not a wisecracking tough guy like Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade or Spenser. At times he seems a little unsure of himself. He cooperates with the police and they don’t hate him. And Lord have mercy, he drives a Pinto. Now how macho is that? And I’d like to know how a guy who’s six-three and over 200 pounds can fit in a Pinto. Well, no matter.

When Harry takes on the case of locating the vandal who’s symbolically cutting up artwork featuring beautiful women, he’s led to an unsolved homicide where a young woman was mutilated in a similar fashion.

Several older women, employed by the library, take Harry under their wings and make sure he gets along with a beautiful young employee assigned to work on the case from within the building. It takes Harry a few arguments and a couple of field trips with this temporary antagonist before they fall in love and then go everywhere together.

All this leads Harry to track down a list of suspects that range from a quirky old man to several skells and junkies who you would smell before see if they walked into a public building.

The finale brings cops and private investigators together to converge on the killer/vandal desparately trying to stop him from slashing a new victim to death.

For the most part, Jonathan Valin didn’t engage in formulaic, contrived conflict or tension to hold a reader’s interest. He did it in real time with a very real and plausible situation that will always be in the back of your mind from about page 30 until the very end. My one complaint comes from a bizarre action scene in the middle of the book that stuck out like a sore thumb and seemed totally unnecessary and contra to the whole atmosphere Valin had constructed beforehand. The scene makes Harry appear almost inept and slices a lot of credibility from his character. The same result could have come from handling the antagonist Harry meets and the situation in a different but still satisfying way. I believe this path was dictated by an editor who wanted to perk up those sleepy readers with an attention span of a lazy old dog. It wasn’t necessary.

[El · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harry Stoner, PI, is on the trail of a sadistic murderer, aided by his new love, Kate. Harry consults a psychiatrist who gives him a list of possible characteristics of the killer and, based on this list, Harry narrows it down to a tattoo-armed suspect. (The psychiatrist’s list mentions a possible tattoo and this is set in the 1980s when it seems forensics or evidence is not needed!) There then ensues a pursuit with red herrings scattered in at random and a romance mixed in for good measure.

If you can leave your disbelief at the door this isn’t bad. Stoner single-mindedly pursues his suspect based solely on the list from the psychiatrist with no proof at all that the (unmet) suspect is the actual killer. Kate goes alone to the home of the suspect ... and guess what happens?! When Stoner confronts the killer he tells the police to stay back while he deals with him alone ....... and they let him! The elderly female staff in the library where this is all set are involved in the investigation and made aware of all the details. I found this book hilarious and guessed the outcome quite early on but it was still an entertaining read. Just not to be taken seriously as a thriller.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seemed a simple enough case for Harry Stoner. Someone was defacing art books in the Hyde Park library and the head man wanted it stopped. But when Harry saw what had been done, he knew the culprit was someone who'd slipped a gear. In photos of statues and painting, a very sharp knife had been used to cut out breasts, genitals, eyes, and mouths.

The library's head of security was a naive young woman who thought her brown belt in karate would be enough to catch the culprit. Harry starts working with her and an older woman who worked at the library to track down the culprit.

But when a two year old murder case is connected to the current problem, a young woman studying art sliced up in the same fashion as the pictures, Harry knows he's dealing with a psychopath who is planning to murder again.

I enjoyed this one, but only gave it four stars as I figured out what was going on three quarters of the way through, way ahead of stoner.

[Cindy B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting - per authors usual (some sex scenes). Well performed Mark Peckham…the narration — not the sex🤣

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook. Harry Stoner is a P.I. in Cincinnati. In this book he is hired by a library to look into the vandalism of several pricey art books. A young woman is also on the security staff. She and Stoner team up and soon discover that this is so much more than vandalism. They are on the trail of a killer. I thought the story flowed well. I would have rated it higher, but I figured out who the murderer was pretty early on. That said, Harry is a good character and the descriptions of his surroundings is eloquent at times.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: someone is defacing library books and PI Harry Stoner is hired. He ends up in a murder case.