Shoot

Valentino #4

by Loren D. Estleman

Valentino, a mild-manner film archivist at UCLA and sometime film detective, is at the closing party for the Red Montana and Dixie Day museum when he is approached by no less than his hero and man-of-the-hour Red Montana, western film and television star.

Red tells Valentino that he is being blackmailed over the existence of a blue film that his wife, now known throughout the world as the wholesome Dixie Day and the other half of the Montana/Day power couple, made early in her career. With Dixie on her deathbed, Red is desperate to save her the embarrassment of the promised scandal, and offers Valentino a deal-find the movie, and he can have Red's lost film, Sixgun Sonata, that Red has been hiding away in his archives. Don't accept, and the priceless reel will go up in flames.

Feeling blackmailed himself, Valentino agrees and begins to dig. In the surreal world of Hollywood, what is on screen is rarely reality. As he races to uncover the truth before time runs out, his heroes begin their fall from grace. Valentino desperately wants to save Sixgun Sonata...but at what cost?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Cozy Mystery

240 pages, Hardcover

First published February 9, 2016

About the author

Loren D. Estleman is an American writer of detective and Western fiction. He writes with a manual typewriter.

Estleman is most famous for his novels about P.I. Amos Walker. Other series characters include Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books.) His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes.

Series:
* Amos Walker Mystery
* Valentino Mystery
* Detroit Crime Mystery
* Peter Macklin Mystery
* Page Murdock Mystery

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valentino is a mild-manner film archivist at UCLA and a sometime film detective ie. he searches for missing old films that are thought lost. The character was introduced in a series of short stories published by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.

The Valentino Books consist of:

1. "Frames" - 2008 by Forge Books
2. "Alone" - 2009 by Forge Books
3. "Valentino: Film Detective" - 2011 by Crippen & Landru
4. "Alive" - 2013 by Forge Books
5. "Shoot" - 2016 by Forge Books

"Shoot" is one of the weaker entries into the series. The story revolves around and elderly couple once famous for their staring roles in western's, or "three reel oatburners", as Mr. Estleman refers to them.

A nice addition to the book is a couple of high level Bibliographies at the end of the book recommending further reading on the topic of the history of westerns, a list of Documentaties regarding the topic,and a nice Filmography.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#4 in the Valentino series. Valentino is a Film Detective, he hunt for missing films or fragments on behalf of UCLA. The conversations he has with Kyle Broadhead, his boss and head of UCLA's Film Preservation Department are replete with references to film personalities and cinema history. A treasure if you are a film buff and, for this series entry, especially a Western film buff.

Valentino series - Southern California's Red Montana and Dixie Day Museum is closing, and Valentino receives an invitation to a farewell gala at the museum-a perfect opportunity to meet with Montana and plead for the sole surviving copy of the legendary feature film, rumored to be in Montana's possession. Montana actually screens a portion of Sixgun Sonata and agrees to let Valentino have it-but only if Valentino will track down and recover the suppressed porno film that Dixie made before she teamed with Montana and started her career as a squeaky-clean cowgirl. And where is Dixie now? At her home, dying of cancer.

[Phair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite of this series, perhaps because the mystery centered around characters that were a fictional composite of the 50s western movie genre rather than any actual personage as in earlier books. While still well researched this one felt a little superficial and less involving. Once again, Estleman provided a bunch of notes, bibliographies & filmographies at the end with lots more information on the western film era. Still love this series and hope he continues writing Valentino mysteries. Really want to see how Val's movie palace restoration project turns out.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Oater

Fourth in the series. No matter your relationship to the movie western, read this book. The author, an expert in cinema provides a story of an old western movie hero with feet of clay who must play the piper when he cannot fulfill the morality of his on-screen persona.

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

When film archivist Valentino is invited to attend a party marking the closing of a museum dedicated to the film history of two Western stars, Red Montana and Dixie Day, he is surprised and gratified to be asked for help by Red himself, who happens to be one of Val’s childhood heroes. It seems there is a “blue movie” of his sweetheart of the screen and in real life, Dixie, that someone is blackmailing Red about and he wants Val to track down the miscreant in order to preserve the dignity of his dying partner. But soon Val finds that there’s more to the situation than simple blackmail, and he begins to learn things about his one-time idol that he’d certainly prefer never to know…. This is the fourth book in this series, and while I enjoyed it as much as the other books, it was a little less wonderful for me because I just, well, don’t like Westerns and the book is chock-full of lore about that particular film genre. Even so, the characters are engaging, and the sub-plots concerning Val’s ongoing financial crisis as he tries to restore an art deco movie palace and his mentor’s pending marriage to a very-much-younger woman are both given plenty of space alongside the Western angle. I also appreciate that Estleman, better known for his Amos Walker series, always provides an extensive bibliography and filmography in the Valentino novels; the interested reader can learn a lot about the history of film just by checking out those volumes. Because of the subject matter, I’m only giving "Shoot" a mild recommendation, but I do recommend Estleman’s work as a whole, as he’s a quite engaging writer.

[Burt · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only part of this book I can truly recommend are the appendices and they are very worthwhile.
Understand that I like Estleman but I did not like this book. He's justly famous for his Amos Walker series and I loved Ragtime Cowboys but this book left me cold. Estleman is a good writer and that's all that kept me reading the book. It's the equivalent of a mediocre movie that you watch anyway. Everything about it fails to ring at all true. If a name gets mentioned don't worry in the next 10 pages the character will appear and do something to move the ridiculous plot along. The ending is more than pat and more than just happy. All the desserts are just. If he was looking to write a paean to western movies, well, this isn't it. On the other hand the appendices are, they clearly show how much he loves the genre and who important he thinks it is. Estleman should have just done them as an article and not bothered with this the 4th volume in his Valentno series. I'd suggest you don't bother either.

[Joe Slavinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loren D. Estleman is one of my favorite authors, and this series is a particular favorite, because he writes it with a significant amount of humor, compared to his many other series. It's not that they're bereft of humor, but writing about a "Film Detective", working for U.C.L.A., recovering old films for preservation, while sinking every penny into his personal money pit, the restoration of a 1920's grand dame movie theater, lends itself rather easily to humor. I won't go into the story, as it is representative of the series, and if you've read the first three, you're likely to enjoy this one as well. If you haven't, and you've read any of Estleman's other works, you will be pleasantly surprised by this series. I highly recommend, however, that you go back to "Frames", which was the first in the series, and start there.

[Greg Trosclair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Valentino mysteries by Loren Estleman. They are always fun quick jaunts. This volume the theme is the Western and is layered with lots on Western movie themed information. The mystery is for Velentino to locate a film that was stolen from an old tme western Star and his wife that should not be seen by the public because of it's erotic nature or heck its an old time porn movie. Velentino goes on the hunt and has his usual cast of familiars with him as well as progress on his movie theater restoration. The story is good and the ending a little forced but I enjoyed the story. The highlight of the Valentino books are Estleman's notes at the end of the book. He gived you all his references and a list of films to watch. These are good books. I look forward to reading the fifth and sixth adventures.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

The 4th Valentino mystery by an author with more than 70 books. So he knows how to write but won't spend the time to write a classic. It's a lite read, not many subplots or much character development. Just a basic plot with flowing descriptions of events, dialogue, film history, and long-winded description of places. There is a plot twist and the book gains momentum for a little while before dragging to the finish line. Film buffs may enjoy this book. Not me, I lost interest and rushed through it to get to my next book.

[Troy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read of Loren Estleman, largely because he was lauded by one of my favorites (Harlan Coben), and I was not disappointed. Quite different than a lot of mystery novels I've read in that Estleman focuses his tale on films of the past as the main theme and develops the main character (Valentino) around his love of them, his interesting relationship with his fellow colleague and Valentino's relationship with the characters surrounding the films as he attempts to solve a puzzle. I liked it well enough to read another in the Valentino series in the near future.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valentine is asked by his childhood hero, and oater movie legend Red Montana to help him locate the person who is blackmailing him. Valentine takes on the assignment, and uncovers another layer underneath the already surreal world world of Hollywood. As Red Montana's wife Dixie Day is dying of cancer Valentine is pressured by Red to expedite his search, or the deal made between the two of them is off. Fast paced, peppered with movie trivia, and facts and Hollywood Land intrigue.

[Kay Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the Amos Walker series about Detroit but have a hard time getting into this character Valentino. I've read two or three of the four novels and just can't get into them. Maybe because I have knowledge of Detroit but don't care about old film. For whatever reason I'm always disappointed when I get into the story, always short, and the characters are so one dimensional.

[Michael Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

We again have Val looking into the chance of finding a 'lost' movie and coming up against several related difficulties. Nice real history of westerns mixed with some made up stuff to match the plot. No resemblance to real people but until the end we are a bit worried that the main characters are based upon heroes from our movie/TV past.

[Dave White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book overall.
I was born in the 40s and grew up with the stars that are referred to within the story.
There were about 4 editing errors that needn't be there. It took away from my enjoyment and books of his I've read in the past were free of them.
The supporting material in the back of the book was worthwhile too.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Mystery plus Hollywood history plus good story.
Loved the dialogue - the characters - history.
Estleman does it again.
I can't even say 'I wish it was longer' because Estleman knows when the story has run it's course.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy this series and this entry was no exception. As always, I learn more about the history of film, coupled with Estleman's superb storytelling. Only problem is thanks to his bibliography at the end I always end with more to read.

[Edward Weiss · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't read the first 3 in this series, and I won't. While fairly-well written, the plot was an obvious one, at least to me. I seemed to always know what was going to happen next.
But, that's not the worst part. The characters were dull. I hope never to meet any of them again.

[Brucie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Completely adequate mystery story but not so thrilling, heavy on nostalgia, all the cuteness and decency is not for me.

[Hameeda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish someone would have told me that 3/4 of the book was about old western movies.

[Dave Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great dialogue, history and character, a tiny bit of deux ex machina finish but fine writing.

[Adrian Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

From my uncle. A murder mystery framed from the point of view of a cinephile whose actual job is to seek out lost copies of really old films. Interesting.

[Oxalis · Rating 2 out of 5]

An OK mystery for me. I'm not into western films but I have to respect the research Estleman put into this book. It was well written so I definitely don't regret picking it up.

[Monzell Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story, my first Valentino story. If you are a western movie fan you might enjoy this book too.

[Melissa Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

According to the author "if you don't like Westerns, you don't like movies". Not true in my case-Westerns have never been my favorite, but I did enjoy this next book in the Valentino series. Nice twist to the plot!

"Valentino, a mild-manner film archivist at UCLA and sometime film detective, is at the closing party for the Red Montana and Dixie Day museum when he is approached by no less than his hero and man-of-the-hour Red Montana, western film and television star. Red tells Valentino that he is being blackmailed over the existence of a blue film that his wife, now known throughout the world as the wholesome Dixie Day and the other half of the Montana/Day power couple, made early in her career. With Dixie on her deathbed, Red is desperate to save her the embarrassment of the promised scandal, and offers Valentino a deal-find the movie, and he can have Red's lost film, Sixgun Sonata, that Red has been hiding away in his archives. Don't accept, and the priceless reel will go up in flames. Feeling blackmailed himself, Valentino agrees and begins to dig. In the surreal world of Hollywood, what is on screen is rarely reality. As he races to uncover the truth before time runs out, his heroes begin their fall from grace. Valentino desperately wants to save Sixgun Sonata...but at what cost?"

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy these characters.

In this story Valentino is dealing with a set of Western Historical Movie stars who are being blackmailed. Instead of being offered money for his investigation, he is offered a rare copy of a movie known to be lost. How can he refuse?

In the course of his investigation he finds out who is doing the blackmailing but does not feel he can reveal that information. While he is accepting that he cannot procure the "lost" film, he has found a better copy of a Disney film which he uses to help a Greek father and son with nationality issues.

This covers a very important section of early film history, and it was delightfully told.

There is no graphic violence and Valentino has a wonderful sense of humor to pair with his intellect.

I borrowed a copy from the public library.

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the Valentino series of "film detective" stories in which a UCLA film restoration expert who is rebuilding a classic movie theater gets into adventures around film stars and movies from the past.

In this one, a Roy Rogers-style cowboy movie hero asks for help with blackmail, but things are not as they seem. The rotten underbelly of Hollywood is turned up stinking in this one and some childhood illusions are destroyed but in the end the love of movies and especially those old westerns are celebrated.

As a story this felt a lot more plausible and reasonable than the previous one with its big shoot em up climax in a wax museum, and overall was quite satisfying.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steeped in Hollywood fokelore, Estleman drops hundreds of names/movie titles, so much so that the plot seems superfluous at times. FANTASTIC 'Closing Credits' which, again, surpass the actual story. I think perhaps I'd rather read nonfiction from this author.

[Michael Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having grown up on Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Rawhide, and others, this story hit many notes for me. The mystery lagged a bit, but the Hollywood details were a pleasure to discover.

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Realized halfway through that I really didn't want to invest any more time in this book... gave up.

This was a new author for me and I was excited to find it on the "new release" shelf of the library. I love mysteries, so finding a new author is always great! I was surprised to see his long list of other books published, because I had never heard of him. I was even more surprised to learn that he lives in "central" Michigan.

Unfortunately, it is one and done for me with this author. Central to the novel were UCLA professors, pornographers, blackmailers and Hollywood anything-goes morals. I learned what a stag / blue film was by reading this book. Not exactly the way I hope to expand my knowledge through books. The author's main theme seemed to be that all "great" men are not good. Examples from Abe Lincoln to the Kennedys to fictional western film icons were used to repeatedly pound this down the reader's throat. Everyone and everything (especially the appearance of old fashioned values) is really corrupt.

I also stumbled over awkward word choices frequently and spotted several grammar mistakes. It seemed to be very poor/cheap writing for such a prolific author.

Nice, friendly format. Short chapters. But not a fast read.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since a Valentino mystery. I always enjoy the old Hollywood connections. Estleman has a rather strange habit of referring to Valentino as "the film archivist." I guess the lesson of this story is that the personas of stars (as opposed to the person) is as fragile as celluloid (or safety film). Except it would seam for Fess Parker who is, at least in this novel, reputed to be as noble as Daniel Boone. The books end with a rather eclectic list of Western recommendations. However Valentino, Estleman, and I all agree. Ride the High Country is the best Western ever.