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Lieutenant Luis Mendoza #6
Double Bluff
'A Luis Mendoza story means superlative suspense' Los Angeles Times
Lieutenant Mendoza seems to be beset on all sides: at home, his wife Alison is convinced she is having twins; at the office his worry is a man called Francis Ingram, prime suspect for a murder Mendoza does not think he has committed.
Yet the fact remains that someone has murdered Mendoza's wife, Arabella, and the evidence points straight at him. But as the case progresses it becomes clear that everyone has a grudge against her and a consuming interest in her will . . .
- GenresMysteryCrimeProcedural
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1963
22 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Dell Shannon
154 books23 followersPseudonym of Elizabeth Linington.
Barbara "Elizabeth" Linington (March 11, 1921 – April 5, 1988) was an American novelist. She was awarded runner-up scrolls for best first mystery novel from the Mystery Writers of America for her 1960 novel, Case Pending, which introduced her most popular series character, LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Luis Mendoza. Her 1961 book, Nightmare, and her 1962 novel, Knave of Hearts, another entry in the Mendoza series, were both nominated for Edgars in the Best Novel category. Regarded as the "Queen of the Procedurals," she was one of the first women to write police procedurals — a male-dominated genre of police-story writing.
Besides crime, Linington also took interest in archaeology, the occult, gemstones, antique weapons and languages. Linington was also a conservative political activist who was an active member of the John Birch Society
Barbara "Elizabeth" Linington (March 11, 1921 – April 5, 1988) was an American novelist. She was awarded runner-up scrolls for best first mystery novel from the Mystery Writers of America for her 1960 novel, Case Pending, which introduced her most popular series character, LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Luis Mendoza. Her 1961 book, Nightmare, and her 1962 novel, Knave of Hearts, another entry in the Mendoza series, were both nominated for Edgars in the Best Novel category. Regarded as the "Queen of the Procedurals," she was one of the first women to write police procedurals — a male-dominated genre of police-story writing.
Besides crime, Linington also took interest in archaeology, the occult, gemstones, antique weapons and languages. Linington was also a conservative political activist who was an active member of the John Birch Society
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 28, 2019
All of the series I've read so far has been very good but I think this for now is my favorite.
Mendoza is sure that the man arrested for the murder of his wife is innocent and goes out of his way to prove it.
Interesting journey on the path to proving what happened is a fun ride.
Mendoza is sure that the man arrested for the murder of his wife is innocent and goes out of his way to prove it.
Interesting journey on the path to proving what happened is a fun ride.
April 11, 2023
This, I think, is not one of Shannon's best. She has slipped back to the "single-case" format--although there are a number of references to other current cases.
The interest in this story comes from the gambling. Several characters, including the main suspect, are "pro sharps", which is a job that Mendoza considers one of the hardest in the world. "You need a memory like God's, and the eyes of a hawk." Nevertheless, Mendoza is at home in this world, having a pro sharp for a grandfather, learning the ways of the cards during his childhood, and growing up to join the Vice squad and spending most of his time spotting the pros for his superiors.
Mendoza feels some sympathy for the suspect--he knows that such men are absolutely not the kind to resort to murder. And maybe he feels a sense of debt on behalf of his grandfather, who left him all that nice money.
It's a pleasant enough story, and it's probably one that Mendoza will remember for all the complications stretching in all directions. And it's rather fun watching Mendoza "disguising" himself in his purplish tweed suit (I rather think this is the one that had been mentioned in passing before; the pattern is a lot less "discreet" than he thought, and he's very annoyed with his tailor.) He puts away his expensive accessories, buys a couple gaudy rings with big fat fake diamonds, and sets off for Gardena for a few hands of draw....I wonder if Los Angeles still has its rather peculiar gambling laws?
There's also the fun side issue of Alison's pregnancy--is it twins? Boy or girl? Two boys, two girls? And what shall we name them? What if they turn out to be red-haired Mendozas?
Almost forgot--this is also the book that begins a standing joke that is carried through the entire remaining opus. One evening, having accidently spilled a little rye on the kitchen drainboard, Mendoza, out of idle curiosity, lifts El Senor up to have a sniff. The result is an instant craving for whiskey. Henceforth, Mendoza will never drink at home alone. El Senor can hear the cupboard door open the length of the house away, or the word "drink" or "rye" uttered in a whisper, and will come racing into the kitchen to demand his share. I suppose that turning a cat into a drunkard could qualify as animal abuse, but El Senor would probably argue the point.
The interest in this story comes from the gambling. Several characters, including the main suspect, are "pro sharps", which is a job that Mendoza considers one of the hardest in the world. "You need a memory like God's, and the eyes of a hawk." Nevertheless, Mendoza is at home in this world, having a pro sharp for a grandfather, learning the ways of the cards during his childhood, and growing up to join the Vice squad and spending most of his time spotting the pros for his superiors.
Mendoza feels some sympathy for the suspect--he knows that such men are absolutely not the kind to resort to murder. And maybe he feels a sense of debt on behalf of his grandfather, who left him all that nice money.
It's a pleasant enough story, and it's probably one that Mendoza will remember for all the complications stretching in all directions. And it's rather fun watching Mendoza "disguising" himself in his purplish tweed suit (I rather think this is the one that had been mentioned in passing before; the pattern is a lot less "discreet" than he thought, and he's very annoyed with his tailor.) He puts away his expensive accessories, buys a couple gaudy rings with big fat fake diamonds, and sets off for Gardena for a few hands of draw....I wonder if Los Angeles still has its rather peculiar gambling laws?
There's also the fun side issue of Alison's pregnancy--is it twins? Boy or girl? Two boys, two girls? And what shall we name them? What if they turn out to be red-haired Mendozas?
Almost forgot--this is also the book that begins a standing joke that is carried through the entire remaining opus. One evening, having accidently spilled a little rye on the kitchen drainboard, Mendoza, out of idle curiosity, lifts El Senor up to have a sniff. The result is an instant craving for whiskey. Henceforth, Mendoza will never drink at home alone. El Senor can hear the cupboard door open the length of the house away, or the word "drink" or "rye" uttered in a whisper, and will come racing into the kitchen to demand his share. I suppose that turning a cat into a drunkard could qualify as animal abuse, but El Senor would probably argue the point.
December 6, 2018
This did not strike me as Shannon's best work. Interestingly, while I could not put it down and was really curious about how things resolved themselves, I felt more indifferent when I finished the book. The solution is pretty complicated, and I lost patience sorting it out.
I also think the previous books in this series were better written with livelier dialogue (especially between Luis and Allison). A continued frustration is that not all the Spanish is translated.
And the characters did not really grab me this time. The corpse is actually the most interesting person in the story.
Fun enough to be worth reading, but I found it slightly disappointing.
I also think the previous books in this series were better written with livelier dialogue (especially between Luis and Allison). A continued frustration is that not all the Spanish is translated.
And the characters did not really grab me this time. The corpse is actually the most interesting person in the story.
Fun enough to be worth reading, but I found it slightly disappointing.
July 16, 2023
Really do enjoy these. This one was kind of complicated at the end,though its wrap up nicely. Mainly a rich lady is missing, but when its obvious she is dead, her husband is of course the main suspect since all the money would be his. In fact the whole family never liked him and was making sure to get their licks in. However the family were not full of grace either, they all had their problems and only was nice to the lady to get in her will. But everyone knew the husband did it, all but Mendoza, he had a hunch and was going to do anything to see it through.
Highly recommend these, fun detective novels.
Highly recommend these, fun detective novels.
April 9, 2024
While LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Luis Mendoza and his wife Alison await the birth of twins, Luis meets a possible murderer that he likes.
Mrs. Bella Ingram has vanished and her family is sure that her husband killed her. This is a big problem for Mendoza. His crystal ball tells him that the man is innocent. As the case progresses and Bella's body is eventually found, a coroner's verdict forces the lieutenant to arrest Francis Ingram.
Has Mendoza erred this time? He vows, "I'll get to the bottom of this if I have to resign over it!"
There are plenty of other suspects, so the clever detective presses on to a satisfying conclusion.
Mrs. Bella Ingram has vanished and her family is sure that her husband killed her. This is a big problem for Mendoza. His crystal ball tells him that the man is innocent. As the case progresses and Bella's body is eventually found, a coroner's verdict forces the lieutenant to arrest Francis Ingram.
Has Mendoza erred this time? He vows, "I'll get to the bottom of this if I have to resign over it!"
There are plenty of other suspects, so the clever detective presses on to a satisfying conclusion.
June 19, 2019
Great 👍
I love the Luis Mendoza series. I have read all of them several times.
I would recommend them to anyone who likes mysteries.
I love the Luis Mendoza series. I have read all of them several times.
I would recommend them to anyone who likes mysteries.
January 12, 2025
Complicated solution.
So much smoking.
So much smoking.
October 31, 2014
#6 in the Luis Mendoza series. Mendoza is a Homicide Lt. for the LAPD. An irate citizen has complained that Ingram has murdered his sister, Ingram's wife. Eventually Sgt. Ames at the local precinct is happy to turn the case over to Mendoza at HQ. The lack of a body is the first problem and the inexact time of her disappearance plays havoc with establishing alibis. Her will leaves most of her considerable fortune to her husband and to Mendoza, this provides a motive for her family of unlikeable characters to frame Ingram. Work-a-day mystery, but rather slow as the same characters are interviewed by a series of cops.
Luis Mendoza series - Lieutenant Mendoza seems to be beset on all sides: at home, his wife Alison is convinced she is having twins; at the office his worry is a man called Francis Ingram, prime suspect for a murder Mendoza does not think he has committed. Yet the fact remains that someone has murdered Mendoza's wife, Arabella, and the evidence points straight at him. But as the case progresses it becomes clear that everyone has a grudge against her and a consuming interest in her will.
Luis Mendoza series - Lieutenant Mendoza seems to be beset on all sides: at home, his wife Alison is convinced she is having twins; at the office his worry is a man called Francis Ingram, prime suspect for a murder Mendoza does not think he has committed. Yet the fact remains that someone has murdered Mendoza's wife, Arabella, and the evidence points straight at him. But as the case progresses it becomes clear that everyone has a grudge against her and a consuming interest in her will.
May 20, 2014
I read several of these Lt. Luis Mendoza crime novels back in the 80's and remember enjoying them all. I have had this one on my shelf for a few years and finally got around to reading it. The book was actually written in 1963 and it does show its age although it was still very enjoyable. Mendoza actually reminded me a lot of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot. In this story, Mendoza was involved in what looked like an open and shut case against a man accused of murdering his wife for her substantial fortune. But to Mendoza, things are not quite what they seem. Even after the husband is arrested, he keeps on the case and eventually unravels what really happened using methods very similar to Poirot. Overall, I would recommend this and others in the series. I will be looking for more of the novels I have missed.
November 7, 2011
#6 in the Lieutenant Luis Mendoza police procedural series by Dell Shannon, set in 1960s Los Angeles CA. Mendoza and his homicide detectives investigate the death of a wealthy woman and the dysfunctional family that hopes to inherit. At first appearing open-and-shut, the case unfolds slowly as a snarl of motivation, timing, alibis. Details about card sharks make for an interesting subplot. Mendoza wraps it all up in his fair and humane way. I started reading the series when it was originally published, and always remembered how much I enjoyed it. Returning to it decades later, it does not disappoint.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews