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Cool and Lam #23
Try Anything Once
Carleton Allen, son-in-law of a millionaire tycoon and nervous of publicity, explains to Bertha Cool and Donald Lam that he's mixed up in a first-class scandal. He's spent the night with a blonde while his wife was away, and that same night at the motel a man was murdered.
Donald doesn't believe the story, but the large retaining fee is too great a temptation to Bertha. So, once again, the intrepid partnership is off on a dangerous mission involving blackmail - and murder ...
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1962
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 6, 2018
Maybe I was just in the right mood for this book, but it struck me as one of the better entries in A. A. Fair's (Erle Stanley Gardner's) Donald Lam and Bertha Cool series.
It begins, unusually, with a client coming into the office and actually telling the truth, or a close approximation thereof. On a night when his wife was out of town, the prospective client, Carleton Allen, took a sexy young woman named Sharon Barker to the Bide-a-Wee-Bit Motel for a little fun and games. The young lady registered for the couple while Allen hunkered down in the car, hoping that no one would recognize him. Naturally, she used a phony name and address and made up a license plate number for the motel register.
Allen claims that nothing happened after that, at least not in his room. Before anything did, the young lady took offense at something Allen did and left. Sadly, though, a deputy district attorney named Rolney Fisher wound up dead at the bottom of the motel's pool that night. Now the police are attempting to interview everyone who was registered there at the time.
One would think that Carleton Allen would be in the clear. The cops don't have his real name, his real address or his actual license plate number, and nobody there got a good look at him. For some reason, though, he's nervous and offers to pay $1500.00 to have Donald go back and spend a night in the motel with the sexy Sharon, pretending that he was the man with her on the night the deputy D. A. went head-first into the pool. The cops will interview them, conclude that they know nothing about the death, and that will be the end of it.
Naturally, Bertha's eyes are lighting up at the prospect of an easy $1500.00 payday for the firm, but Donald is leery of getting mixed up in a murder investigation that might cost the firm its license. In the end, he agrees to spend the night with Sharon at the motel, but only on his own terms. And, of course, before the night is out, the fireworks will have begun and as usual, Donald will have to pull every trick he has out of the bag to save himself and the firm
I thought this was a fun read, and it will appeal principally to people who enjoy reading Gardner's work or occasionally going back in time to read a pulp novel from the Golden Age of the genre.
It begins, unusually, with a client coming into the office and actually telling the truth, or a close approximation thereof. On a night when his wife was out of town, the prospective client, Carleton Allen, took a sexy young woman named Sharon Barker to the Bide-a-Wee-Bit Motel for a little fun and games. The young lady registered for the couple while Allen hunkered down in the car, hoping that no one would recognize him. Naturally, she used a phony name and address and made up a license plate number for the motel register.
Allen claims that nothing happened after that, at least not in his room. Before anything did, the young lady took offense at something Allen did and left. Sadly, though, a deputy district attorney named Rolney Fisher wound up dead at the bottom of the motel's pool that night. Now the police are attempting to interview everyone who was registered there at the time.
One would think that Carleton Allen would be in the clear. The cops don't have his real name, his real address or his actual license plate number, and nobody there got a good look at him. For some reason, though, he's nervous and offers to pay $1500.00 to have Donald go back and spend a night in the motel with the sexy Sharon, pretending that he was the man with her on the night the deputy D. A. went head-first into the pool. The cops will interview them, conclude that they know nothing about the death, and that will be the end of it.
Naturally, Bertha's eyes are lighting up at the prospect of an easy $1500.00 payday for the firm, but Donald is leery of getting mixed up in a murder investigation that might cost the firm its license. In the end, he agrees to spend the night with Sharon at the motel, but only on his own terms. And, of course, before the night is out, the fireworks will have begun and as usual, Donald will have to pull every trick he has out of the bag to save himself and the firm
I thought this was a fun read, and it will appeal principally to people who enjoy reading Gardner's work or occasionally going back in time to read a pulp novel from the Golden Age of the genre.
March 10, 2019
I read this book out loud to my husband as we drove to Houston for the weekend. It's a tradition with us to read an A.A. Fair mystery on road trips.
What can I say? If you like Bertha Cool and Donald Lam, you'll like this one. As always everything is from Lam's point of view, which I like because it helps to connect and develop sympathy for the protagonist.
A desperate man comes to Lam and Cool, a desperate man is always coming to Lam and Cool. Let me correct myself, a LOADED desperate man is always coming to Lam and Cool. If the men weren't loaded, Bertha Cool would not care how desperate they were. Donald Lam does not care how loaded they are and this man wants him him to do something unethical that could possibly cost him his license.
Carleton Allen, a married man, made some poor choices. He took a woman, not his wife, to the Bide a Wee bit Motel.
An aside:
For the record, I got really tired of saying "Bide a Wee Bit Motel" and I had to say "Bide a Wee Bit" Motel a lot because it's a central plot location. Everything relevant, like the murder, happens at the Bide a Wee Bit Motel, so Lam and the others go back and forth to the Bide a Wee bit Motel. Try saying "Bide a Wee Bit Motel" really fast three times. I'm sure by now you feel my pain.
So, Allen, and a lady he met at a night club go to the Bide a...you know...and prepare to have some fun. Except they don't, he gets drunk, passes out, the lady gets a taxi and goes home. Nothing happens at the Bide a Wee Bit Motel.
Well, something happens. The next day, in the pool, a man is found dead. It is apparent he was murdered because the top of his head is bashed in. Allen knows nothing about it, except he does not want his name dragged into it. He wants Lam to go with the lady and pretend to be him to answer questions from the police who are questioning everyone who was at the Motel that night.
By the way, my only other complaint is that the lady's name is Sharon. My name is Sharon and I found it really irritating to say my own name over and over again because the Sharon in the book is a real tramp.
But, as another reviewer said, this is a swift moving plot with lots of twists and turns that leaves the reader guessing. Surprises pop up like a scantily clad Sharon out of a birthday cake and kept my husband and I entertained to the very end.
What can I say? If you like Bertha Cool and Donald Lam, you'll like this one. As always everything is from Lam's point of view, which I like because it helps to connect and develop sympathy for the protagonist.
A desperate man comes to Lam and Cool, a desperate man is always coming to Lam and Cool. Let me correct myself, a LOADED desperate man is always coming to Lam and Cool. If the men weren't loaded, Bertha Cool would not care how desperate they were. Donald Lam does not care how loaded they are and this man wants him him to do something unethical that could possibly cost him his license.
Carleton Allen, a married man, made some poor choices. He took a woman, not his wife, to the Bide a Wee bit Motel.
An aside:
For the record, I got really tired of saying "Bide a Wee Bit Motel" and I had to say "Bide a Wee Bit" Motel a lot because it's a central plot location. Everything relevant, like the murder, happens at the Bide a Wee Bit Motel, so Lam and the others go back and forth to the Bide a Wee bit Motel. Try saying "Bide a Wee Bit Motel" really fast three times. I'm sure by now you feel my pain.
So, Allen, and a lady he met at a night club go to the Bide a...you know...and prepare to have some fun. Except they don't, he gets drunk, passes out, the lady gets a taxi and goes home. Nothing happens at the Bide a Wee Bit Motel.
Well, something happens. The next day, in the pool, a man is found dead. It is apparent he was murdered because the top of his head is bashed in. Allen knows nothing about it, except he does not want his name dragged into it. He wants Lam to go with the lady and pretend to be him to answer questions from the police who are questioning everyone who was at the Motel that night.
By the way, my only other complaint is that the lady's name is Sharon. My name is Sharon and I found it really irritating to say my own name over and over again because the Sharon in the book is a real tramp.
But, as another reviewer said, this is a swift moving plot with lots of twists and turns that leaves the reader guessing. Surprises pop up like a scantily clad Sharon out of a birthday cake and kept my husband and I entertained to the very end.
February 5, 2017
With the offer of a cool thousand dollars in exchange for spending one night with a comely young woman at a high class motel while impersonating a married man wishing to evade the public spotlight for his adultery, private detectives Cool and Lam can hardly refuse the easy score. However, things get complicated when their detective agency becomes involved in the murder investigation which occurred at the same venue.
Written in 1962, the dialogue and manner by which this case was conducted doesn't stand the test of time. Then again, that’s not really the purpose here; Try Anything Once is a pulp private detective novel which reads, court scene aside, very much like a Carter Brown book full of wanton females, inept cops, and a PI with a knack for closing cases and winning big both personally and professionally – near dime-store pulp all the way.
While entertaining enough, the frenetic ending and surprise suspects came all too quickly as the case closed at rapid speed. The final court scene felt out of place with the rest of book and read more as an easy tool to end the book and break open the murder case as apposed to a cleverly orchestrated conclusion.
Despite being book 23 in the series, Try Anything Once is new reader friendly if you can track down a copy that is. I confess, I only picked this up because of the new Hardcase Crime books. Ok pulp but I’ve read much better. 2.5 / 5.
Written in 1962, the dialogue and manner by which this case was conducted doesn't stand the test of time. Then again, that’s not really the purpose here; Try Anything Once is a pulp private detective novel which reads, court scene aside, very much like a Carter Brown book full of wanton females, inept cops, and a PI with a knack for closing cases and winning big both personally and professionally – near dime-store pulp all the way.
While entertaining enough, the frenetic ending and surprise suspects came all too quickly as the case closed at rapid speed. The final court scene felt out of place with the rest of book and read more as an easy tool to end the book and break open the murder case as apposed to a cleverly orchestrated conclusion.
Despite being book 23 in the series, Try Anything Once is new reader friendly if you can track down a copy that is. I confess, I only picked this up because of the new Hardcase Crime books. Ok pulp but I’ve read much better. 2.5 / 5.
December 29, 2023
Another great Cool & Lam story. I love this series and have enjoyed immensely each of the books in the series I have read. A relaxing quick read. Highly recommended.
October 31, 2024
Ο Έρλ Στάνλευ Γκάρντνερ είναι ένας συγγραφέας που σπανίως αναφέρεται στη χώρα μας και ακόμα σπανιότερα εμφανίζεται σε δημοσιεύσεις φίλων της αστυνομικής λογοτεχνίας.
Και όμως, ο δημιουργός μεταξύ άλλων του θρυλικού Πέρυ Μέισον, υπήρξε μέχρι τον θάνατο του, το 1970, o πιο ευπώλητος συγγραφέας της εποχής του και υπολογίζεται ότι κάθε ένα από τα περίπου εκατόν τριάντα βιβλία που έγραψε ξεπέρασε το ένα εκατομμύριο πωλήσεις.
Μετά την παρατεταμένη άνθηση της αστυνομικής μυθοπλασίας ή πιο σωστά της μυθοπλασίας του εγκλήματος, το κοινό που την αγκάλιασε με πάθος, δεν ξεκίνησε, με εξαίρεση κάποιες φωτεινές εξαιρέσεις (Ουάλας, Τσέστερτον, Ντόιλ, Κρίστι), από τις ρίζες ή έστω από τον κορμό αλλά από τα φύλλα. Όμως ήταν αυτές οι ισχυρές ρίζες που δημιούργησαν ένα όμορφο δέντρο που έφτασε να καρπίσει. Και σε αυτό η «ευθύνη» δεν βαρύνει αποκλειστικά τους αναγνώστες στον βαθμό που είναι πολύ εύκολο να βρεις ένα βιβλίο του Άρναλντ Αδιάφορσον αλλά είναι σχεδόν αδύνατον να βρεις κάποιο βιβλίο του Γκάρντνερ για παράδειγμα αν δεν ψάξεις σε κάποιο παλαιοβιβλιοπωλείο για να ανακαλύψεις ένα ΒΙΠΕΡ με τα γνωστά προβλήματα περικοπών και επιμέλειας.
Ο Γκάρντνερ, δικηγόρος στο επάγγελμα, συνήγορος πολλών αναξιοπαθούντων και άδικα καταδικασμένων πολιτών, αντλούσε συχνά τα θέματα του από πραγματικές υποθέσεις γι αυτό και τα έργα του διακρίνονται για τον ρεαλισμό και την ανθρώπινη ματιά τους. Η πλοκή των ιστοριών του είναι πάντα ευρηματική και η αφήγηση, εμπλουτισμένη με πολλές λεπτομέρειες συχνά καθηλωτική.
Στις αρχές της καριέρας του χρησιμοποιώντας μόνο τα δύο δάχτυλα για να πληκτρολογεί στη γραφομηχανή, έγραφε περίπου 1,2 εκατομμύρια λέξεις το χρόνο για pulp περιοδικά.
Ο πολύς Ρέιμοντ Τσάντλερ τον θαύμαζε και μελετούσε τις ιστορίες του.
ΕΓΚΛΗΜΑ ΣΤΟ ΜΟΤΕΛ
Ο Κάρλτον Άλλεν, γαμπρός ενός πολυεκατομμυριούχου, που φοβάται τη δημοσιότητα, καταφεύγει στο γραφείο Κουλ και Λαμ.
Είναι μπλεγμένος σε ένα σκανδαλο πρώτου μεγέθους. Είχε περάσει τη νύχτα του με μια ξανθιά, εκμεταλλευόμενος την απουσία της γυναίκας του, σε ένα μοτέλ που το ίδιο βράδυ δολοφονήθηκε ο βοηθός εισαγγελέα.
Η ιστορία δεν είναι και τόσο αληθοφανής αλλά η αμοιβή είναι τόσο μεγάλη που βάζει την Μπέρθα Κούλ και τον Ντόναλντ Λάμ σε πειρασμό.
Μια ακόμα ωραία ιστορία από έναν σκαπανέα του είδους
Και όμως, ο δημιουργός μεταξύ άλλων του θρυλικού Πέρυ Μέισον, υπήρξε μέχρι τον θάνατο του, το 1970, o πιο ευπώλητος συγγραφέας της εποχής του και υπολογίζεται ότι κάθε ένα από τα περίπου εκατόν τριάντα βιβλία που έγραψε ξεπέρασε το ένα εκατομμύριο πωλήσεις.
Μετά την παρατεταμένη άνθηση της αστυνομικής μυθοπλασίας ή πιο σωστά της μυθοπλασίας του εγκλήματος, το κοινό που την αγκάλιασε με πάθος, δεν ξεκίνησε, με εξαίρεση κάποιες φωτεινές εξαιρέσεις (Ουάλας, Τσέστερτον, Ντόιλ, Κρίστι), από τις ρίζες ή έστω από τον κορμό αλλά από τα φύλλα. Όμως ήταν αυτές οι ισχυρές ρίζες που δημιούργησαν ένα όμορφο δέντρο που έφτασε να καρπίσει. Και σε αυτό η «ευθύνη» δεν βαρύνει αποκλειστικά τους αναγνώστες στον βαθμό που είναι πολύ εύκολο να βρεις ένα βιβλίο του Άρναλντ Αδιάφορσον αλλά είναι σχεδόν αδύνατον να βρεις κάποιο βιβλίο του Γκάρντνερ για παράδειγμα αν δεν ψάξεις σε κάποιο παλαιοβιβλιοπωλείο για να ανακαλύψεις ένα ΒΙΠΕΡ με τα γνωστά προβλήματα περικοπών και επιμέλειας.
Ο Γκάρντνερ, δικηγόρος στο επάγγελμα, συνήγορος πολλών αναξιοπαθούντων και άδικα καταδικασμένων πολιτών, αντλούσε συχνά τα θέματα του από πραγματικές υποθέσεις γι αυτό και τα έργα του διακρίνονται για τον ρεαλισμό και την ανθρώπινη ματιά τους. Η πλοκή των ιστοριών του είναι πάντα ευρηματική και η αφήγηση, εμπλουτισμένη με πολλές λεπτομέρειες συχνά καθηλωτική.
Στις αρχές της καριέρας του χρησιμοποιώντας μόνο τα δύο δάχτυλα για να πληκτρολογεί στη γραφομηχανή, έγραφε περίπου 1,2 εκατομμύρια λέξεις το χρόνο για pulp περιοδικά.
Ο πολύς Ρέιμοντ Τσάντλερ τον θαύμαζε και μελετούσε τις ιστορίες του.
ΕΓΚΛΗΜΑ ΣΤΟ ΜΟΤΕΛ
Ο Κάρλτον Άλλεν, γαμπρός ενός πολυεκατομμυριούχου, που φοβάται τη δημοσιότητα, καταφεύγει στο γραφείο Κουλ και Λαμ.
Είναι μπλεγμένος σε ένα σκανδαλο πρώτου μεγέθους. Είχε περάσει τη νύχτα του με μια ξανθιά, εκμεταλλευόμενος την απουσία της γυναίκας του, σε ένα μοτέλ που το ίδιο βράδυ δολοφονήθηκε ο βοηθός εισαγγελέα.
Η ιστορία δεν είναι και τόσο αληθοφανής αλλά η αμοιβή είναι τόσο μεγάλη που βάζει την Μπέρθα Κούλ και τον Ντόναλντ Λάμ σε πειρασμό.
Μια ακόμα ωραία ιστορία από έναν σκαπανέα του είδους
August 20, 2020
Pretty good Cool & Lam mystery. Plenty of femmes fatale and lots of hard-boiled cops and PIs. Cool does her usual uncoolness and Lam out-foxes them all. Formulaic, but isn't that one reason we keep coming back? One reason I always enjoy these is how Lam hunts down his prey--he is a good old fashioned shoe leather detective. BTW that book cover has nothing at all to do with the book.
March 31, 2024
When you're 23 books in to a continuing detective series, it's pretty clear that you like it. And it's probably at a point where the formula is set and maybe there's diminishing returns. I had thought that maybe I'd gotten to that point with Cool and Lam. But then again...maybe not. This was a super solid entry in the series 23 years and 23 books in (funny how that worked). Yeah, it's still mostly hitting the formula that was established after the end of WWII and Donald came back from service in the navy. But Gardner still throws a curve here and there.
While Donald still gets himself in to a jam, it's mostly not his fault. Bertha gets him in to a case he doesn't want to take (not unusual), he really does try to keep it from spiraling out of control, and Frank Sellers is even more awful than usual. If I had a big complaint about the last few entries it's that Sellers has been made in to a quasi-antagonist. And that's a problem.
On the other hand we see a nice turn in the relationship between Donald and Elsie, which is welcome. And Bertha was definitely better than usual. The real telling point is that I read this book (recognizing it's not super long) in two evenings. That's a sign that it sucked me in.
While Donald still gets himself in to a jam, it's mostly not his fault. Bertha gets him in to a case he doesn't want to take (not unusual), he really does try to keep it from spiraling out of control, and Frank Sellers is even more awful than usual. If I had a big complaint about the last few entries it's that Sellers has been made in to a quasi-antagonist. And that's a problem.
On the other hand we see a nice turn in the relationship between Donald and Elsie, which is welcome. And Bertha was definitely better than usual. The real telling point is that I read this book (recognizing it's not super long) in two evenings. That's a sign that it sucked me in.
May 29, 2017
Gardner's Cool and Lam series features a mismatched pair of private eyes, overweight chintzy thick headed Bertha Cool and bantamweight but brainy Donald Lam. A lot of the fun in this series is the juxtaposition of these two although in this volume that's not really the case.
This is a swift moving, well-plotted tale revolving around cocktail waitresses, motel rooms, fingerprints, planted evidence, and all kinds of odd characters. Lam knows the case presented to them is no good and tries his hardest to avoid getting ensnared and, once he's in, it takes him a while to put all the clues together. The book also crosses into Perry Mason territory with courtroom cross-examination.
An easy read and a lot of fun.
This is a swift moving, well-plotted tale revolving around cocktail waitresses, motel rooms, fingerprints, planted evidence, and all kinds of odd characters. Lam knows the case presented to them is no good and tries his hardest to avoid getting ensnared and, once he's in, it takes him a while to put all the clues together. The book also crosses into Perry Mason territory with courtroom cross-examination.
An easy read and a lot of fun.
May 8, 2017
I had some time on my hands today so I really flew through this one. I gave it three, as opposed to the usual four, stars because AAF/ESG once again reverted to Perry Mason-like courtroom tactics for the denouement. While I have always enjoyed the Perry Mason mysteries, these were meant to be of a different nature. Also of note from this one is that the recently-brutal Sgt. Sellers gets his comeuppance at the end of the novel. I am curious to see how long this detente lasts, but there are only six books remaining in the series. On to the next one!
November 16, 2023
One of the most entertaining books in the Cool and Lam series. It all begins with a client who wants Donald Lam to impersonate him during what amounts to an essential rerun of a motel date with a girl he picked up. Without going into further plot details, this unusual job draws the firm into two murders that seem only tangentially related at first.
Lam is his usual smart self, working all the angles he can while Bertha Cool is on top form, intimidating and marvelously profane.
Lam is his usual smart self, working all the angles he can while Bertha Cool is on top form, intimidating and marvelously profane.
May 8, 2024
A real detective novel with dramatic courtroom ending. Dynamic duo; male and female reminds me of Moonlighting in a weird kind of way. Always revolving around cheating and murder. Not as snappy as some other writers but deft and to the point with enough information to understand the ending before it happens.
Salacious as well.
Salacious as well.
August 16, 2018
Loved the ending
September 22, 2022
very dated as expected but a good read all the same if you like the private eye genre
May 31, 2025
Mr. Gardner allows himself more creative in this story. For the 1940s, the story is rather risque. All the Cool and Lam stories are always fun to read.
June 6, 2018
Perfect summer reading ... clever Donald Lam, tank-like Bertha Cool and a lot of nefarious folk trying to use them to put one over on the law.
February 11, 2024
This is the 23rd of the 30 books in the series about private detectives Bertha Cool and Donald Lam which Gardner wrote under the name AA Fair.
I found this one a bit trying. It is fairly short, but really contains enough material only for a long short story or novella. I also did not find it as amusing as the other novel I read from the series.Many of the women in the story are portrayed in mildly pornographic way which,while part of the pulp tradition from which the series is derived, is very dated and quite distasteful.
Not an enjoyable read. The ending is abrupt and the detection minimal.
I found this one a bit trying. It is fairly short, but really contains enough material only for a long short story or novella. I also did not find it as amusing as the other novel I read from the series.Many of the women in the story are portrayed in mildly pornographic way which,while part of the pulp tradition from which the series is derived, is very dated and quite distasteful.
Not an enjoyable read. The ending is abrupt and the detection minimal.
March 12, 2015
Kokenut kaiken tietää on halvalla painettuja 60-luvun dekkareita, jonka nimen ja kansikuvan lienee laatinut toimitussihteeri iltapuhteenaan – kumpikaan ei oikeastaan liity millään tavalla kirjan sisältöön. Tosin alkuperäisteoksenkaan nimi Try Anything Once ei kerro tarinasta juuri mitään.
Bertha Cool ja Donald Lam ovat railakas etsiväpari, joka saa asiakkaakseen Carleton Allenin – miehen, joka sattui viettämään yötä motellissa vaaleaverikön seurassa silloin, kun siellä tapahtui murha. Bertha ja Donald saavat tehtäväkseen suojella asiakastaan ikävien juorujen leviämiseltä erityisesti tämän vaimon korviin. Dialogi on hersyvää, mutta juonen osalta teos tuskin kuuluu A. A. Fairin parhaisiin.
Bertha Cool ja Donald Lam ovat railakas etsiväpari, joka saa asiakkaakseen Carleton Allenin – miehen, joka sattui viettämään yötä motellissa vaaleaverikön seurassa silloin, kun siellä tapahtui murha. Bertha ja Donald saavat tehtäväkseen suojella asiakastaan ikävien juorujen leviämiseltä erityisesti tämän vaimon korviin. Dialogi on hersyvää, mutta juonen osalta teos tuskin kuuluu A. A. Fairin parhaisiin.
August 29, 2009
The A.A. Fair books are generally quite good, but this one is less rambunctious than average. Usually Donald Lam pulls off some really clever idea... in this one he just keeps plugging away against resistance, seeing through the gags until he gets it done. A good read but hardly the best of the series.
July 3, 2014
pseud earl stanley gardner
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews