The Devil Met a Lady

Toby Peters #17

by Stuart M. Kaminsky

Why has fabulous Bette Davis - the best known face in the world behind Roosevelt and Hitler - been kidnapped not once, not twice, but three times? What in the world does this star abduction have to do with Third Reich designs on America's plans for a top-secret superbomber? And who else but Hollywood private eye Toby Peters - always short of a nightmare, far from a dream - to plunge into his seventeenth and most hair-raising adventure in pursuit of the answers? It begins with a frantic call from the elegant Arthur Farnsworth, an alcoholic designer of aircraft machinery and, not incidentally, Bette's most current husband. Farnsworth, spinning a tale of illicit passion and brazen blackmail, hires Peters to out-navigate the Nazis, as well as keep an eye on his illustrious wife. Spending about a third of his waking time on the phone and another third on his back (usually in hospitals). Peters penetrates a hapless spy ring composed of fourth-rate Tinseltown tough guys. He delves far too deeply for his own good into the bedroom peccadillos of America's glitter set. And, as bodies build around him, he sets off to the rescue of a movie goddess. But who'll protect Toby Peters from the divine Miss Davis? The Devil met a Lady heralds the long-awaited reunion of Toby Peters, vintage L.A.'s saltiest hard-boiled sleuth, with the greatest luminaries of the silver screen's golden age.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Detective, Crime, Historical Mystery, Whodunit

230 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Stuart M. Kaminsky wrote 50 published novels, 5 biographies, 4 textbooks and 35 short stories. He also has screenwriting credits on four produced films including ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, ENEMY TERRITORY, A WOMAN IN THE WIND and HIDDEN FEARS. He was a past president of the Mystery Writers of America and was nominated for six prestigious Edgar Allen Poe Awards including one for his short story “Snow” in 1999. He won an Edgar for his novel A COLD RED SUNRISE, which was also awarded the Prix De Roman D’Aventure of France. He was nominated for both a Shamus Award and a McCavity Readers Choice Award.

Kaminsky wrote several popular series including those featuring Lew Fonesca, Abraham Lieberman, Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, and Toby Peters. He also wrote two original "Rockford Files " novels. He was the 50th annual recipient of the Grandmaster 2006 for Lifetime Achievement from the Mystery Writers of America.

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievement award) in 2007.

His nonfiction books including BASIC FILMMAKING, WRITING FOR TELEVISION, AMERICAN FILM GENRES, and biographies of GARY COOPER, CLINT EASTWOOD, JOHN HUSTON and DON SIEGEL. BEHIND THE MYSTERY was published by Hot House Press in 2005 and nominated by Mystery Writers of America for Best Critical/Biographical book in 2006.

Kaminsky held a B.S. in Journalism and an M.A. in English from The University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in Speech from Northwestern University where he taught for 16 years before becoming a Professor at Florida State. where he headed the Graduate Conservatory in Film and Television Production. He left Florida State in 1994 to pursue full-time writing.

Kaminsky and his wife, Enid Perll, moved to St. Louis, Missouri in March 2009 to await a liver transplant to treat the hepatitis he contracted as an army medic in the late 1950s in France. He suffered a stroke two days after their arrival in St. Louis, which made him ineligible for a transplant. He died on October 9, 2009.

Reviews

[sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of us have comfort books that we read over and over. I'm a voracious reader...mostly non-fiction but Toby Peters was my go-to comfort read... could write a book 'bout why these books are so deeply important to me. The respect he has for each of his decidedly oddball friends and hilarious landlady show deep humanity... time period also a loved "character". The cost of his groceries in the 1940's. His relationship with his brother. The deadpan, sardonic humor was the best. As I said...I wish more people knew his books but maybe I'm just suited for them? His other detectives...Abe, Lew, and the Russian...each so different...each so endearing. I somehow connected with Stuart's son (named Peter) after he died. We fb'd occasionally and that was important to me until he himself died young recently but I learned more of my fav author from him and that he named his Toby Peter characters after his children. I just feel gratitude that I somehow came upon them years ago and they have given me so much pleasure. wish others knew of him more. Finally, it was weird to learn that Kaminsky died of liver failure due to hepatitis contracted in the war while waiting for a transplant. My own still young husband is now in nursing home also suffering from non-alcoholic cryptogenic liver disease on a transplant list for 12 years now...:(

[James Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bette Davis' husband hires Toby to protect her from Axis spies who are after the military secrets he works on.

Of course, Bette gets kidnapped right out from under Toby. Three times. Killers, femme fatales, bad character actor rejects with guns, a sleazy PI whom Toby knows, and a sleazy, deadly talent agent. Oh, and a record of Bette cheating on her first husband, which the spies are using as blackmail.

A fun romp with all the supporting cast in play.

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on extensive research of Bette Davis’ career, The Devil Met a Lady blends facts concerning her life with the fictional world of Toby Peters to produce a screwball comedy that Davis’ would have excelled at playing. Kaminsky captures Davis’ character perfectly, Peters is an engaging, nourish PI who stumbles from one crisis to the next, and there are a host of assorted, odd but well drawn characters including a massive former wrestler, a dwarf, a cranky landlady, and host of failed, hammy actors. The dialogue is excellent and the story is engagingly written and zips along at a jaunty pace. The blending of historical fact with fiction is very well done (perhaps not unsurprisingly as Kaminsky was a Professor of Film History), and one feels dropped into 1940s war time Los Angeles. I though the first half was excellent and while the second half was compelling the screwball element slipped away a little and the ending didn’t quite rise to the crescendo I was expecting. All in all though a very enjoyable read.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I'm looking for light read with humor I turn to Toby Peters though it is getting harder to find this series. Noir detective Toby Peters once again saves a movie star circa 1943.

[Dave Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Toby Peters mystery. Wartime Los Angeles was fun, these books are fun. If bodies pile up and you are going on the lam with a golden era movie star, Betty Davis is you're star to rely on.

[Larry Shackley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This entry in the Toby Peters series is not one of the best. It's a pretty standard story: Hollywood star (this time it's Bette Davis) is in trouble, and Toby has to get her out of it. Toby and his usual co-stars try to get to the heart of the problem, and as usual he gets beaten up, shot at, and pestered by the cops. The ending is more melodramatic than mysterious. I read this because I'm going through the books in order, but I wouldn't return to this one for a second visit.

I do have to say that I'm impressed with Kaminsky's mastery of early 40s trivia. I found myself looking up radio shows and old songs that he mentions, which enhanced my appreciation for the book. When he says that on a certain night, Toby tuned in a particular program and heard a particular plot, I tend to believe him.

[Tim Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil Met A Lady was a fun entry in the Toby Peters series by Stuart Kaminsky with many pages given to interplay between Toby and the feisty Bette Davis. A brisk moving story with theatrical villains, multiple kidnappings and some poignant moments involving Jeremy’s wife as well as a medical crisis involving Toby’s sister-in-law Ruth. Add to the mix wartime L.A., Toby’s unorthodox assistants and the indefatigable Mrs. Plaut and the result is another entertaining Toby Peters romp.
Highly recommended.

[Willie Kirschner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another in the long list of Tracy Peters investigations involving a Hollywood star, Bette Davis, her husband and the usual cast of characters who are involved in most of these novels. And for once, Tracy’s brother isn’t beating him up.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid Kandinsky.

[Chad Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome interesting and excellent story

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bette Davis's husband Arthur Farnsworth hires Toby Peters to protect his wife. Someone is trying to kidnap her to force Farnsworth to betray his country. Fun formulaic mystery.

[Frank Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

fast paced and exciting read!

[Raquel Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

O nosso herói volta a trabalhar com estrelas do cinema.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories seem very similar, but they are always different.

[Jon Ziomek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the better Toby Peters adventures. I hadn't been crazy about the one just previous to this one in the series ... it was about Salvador Dali. This one has Bette Davis and a series of kidnappings. It's quite clever.

[F.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books do stand and fall on how good the celebrity guest star’ is. So as you can imagine, the Bette Davis instalment is really quite good.

[Joe Santoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've not read many Toby Peters' mysteries, but this one fit the form... Toby gets the crap kicked out of him and seems generally incompetent until about 2/3 of the way through, then brilliantly puts everything together, sets a trap to catch the bad guys, and manages to not get arrested.

This one centers around Bette Davis and her 2nd (I think) husband Arthur Farnsworth, who gets to be a military researcher to add a Nazi spy element to the mix. I have no idea if that was a legitimate thing back in the day (googling it didn't get me anything other than his mysterious death, which does get a mention at the end of the book), but it worked nicely for the story, which involved bad guys trying to kidnap Davis to get Farnsworth to give them their secret plans, with the additional weight of a blackmail tape (which involved Davis and Howard Hughes). Farnsworth hires Toby to protect her, which he fails at mostly, but in the end it all works out.

There's some great bits with The Toby Peters' cast which I know just enough about to appreciate, and which series fans I'm sure loved. Kaminsky paints Davis is the best possible light, contrary to most of what I read about her otherwise, which is interesting and very believable.

Very close to a 5 star book... just a bit too predictible.

[Conan Tigard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was quite please with this The Devil Met a Lady. I really liked the main character, Toby Peters. He is funny, but not goofy or silly. He is no Fletch, but he holds his grounds and you will really fall for this guy. Another thing that I liked was all of the reference to…things. Like Pepsi. Or talking about the car…the Graham. (I’ve never heard of one). Or just about any of the other reference to consumer goods, advertising material, or just…things.

If you want a hero that always does the right thing and comes out of a bad situation spotless and un-bruised, well…Toby is not your man. He is quite human and makes a lot of mistakes. But he is smart. All of this is why I like this book and this character.

I definitely recommend The Devil Met a Lady for a great read.

I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.

[Michael Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stuart M. Kaminsky's Toby Peters novels, set in Hollywood in the 1940s, are always entertaining, and what makes the series particularly good is that Kaminsky never fell into a format. This entry into the adventures of possibly the most beat-up PI in Los Angeles features Bette Davis as the guest client, and it has a much more noirish tone than earlier Peters books, which leaned more toward the light-hearted. In addition to being a prolific mystery writer, Kaminsky was a film professor who knew his Hollywood history back-to-front, which gives this series the benefit of historical accuracy. Unlike other authors who utilize Golden Age movie stars as protagonists, Kaminsky's depiction of the actors and actresses are true to life, not fancifully dramatized.

[Toby · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was the first toby peters novel i read and i was both pleasantly surprised and quietly horrified. it was filled with typos and printing errors. ideally this cannot be attributed to the author who has created a fun homage to the hardboiled private eyes of days gone by and added a nice touch by including celebrities of the period as characters in need of our heroes assistance. however toby peters is no sam spade or phillip marlowe and certainly no mike hammer. having said that, if you want a light and fun crime caper then i recommend any of the toby peters series.

[Aline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this Toby Peters mystery.
It was really interesting to learn a little more abour Bette Davis. She's an actress I don't know a lot about and I would like to find a biography or some other books about her.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toby Peters w/ Bette Davis

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Good; Continuing character: Toby Peters; Bette Davis is the star in trouble this time, as her husband is being blackmailed

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bette Davis is on the case! (Funny enough this is one of 3 books with the great actress helping solve a murder)

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the series. I had a little trouble getting into it. I am also not a huge Bette Davis (Toby Peters' client in this novel).

[Noreen]

Not very interesting. Same old, same old.

[Laura]

Set in WWII Hollywood & written in film noir style. Bette Davis has been kidnapped 3 different times! What does she have to do with the Third Reich and the plans for an American superbomber?

[Fran Prisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series, a little history and a lot of suspence

[Toffolotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this one! Original, fresh, it's got character and characters.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always a pleasure to spend a few hours in the company of one of Stuart Kaminsky's lovable characters-- in this case, it's the ever put-upon Toby Peters, a private investigator with a flattened nose and a mug only his mother could love (well, she and a few other women who find him charming and attractive in an unusual way).
The Toby Peters series invariably has him involved with some famous Hollywood celebrity, usually protecting or helping them recover something of value, set in and around the late 30's through mid 1940's. With the assistance of a cast of colorful friends, such as Jeremy, a giant former wrestler who is also a poet, a little-person who barely exceeds 3'6" but is ever elegant and erudite, and a dentist who chain smokes cigars & practices dentistry as if he were a Mid-Evil torturer, Toby manages to get himself and his famous client, Bette Davis in this episode, into and out of a series of scrapes that eventuate into a lovely plot twist to end the story.
Along the way we have Mrs. Plaut, Toby's landlady who is hard of hearing, demanding, and always good for some full belly-laughs, and some touching scenes with Toby's ill sister-in-law.
I confess a soft-spot for Stuart Kaminsky's works, particularly his Abe Lieberman series. His Toby Peters stories are enjoyable and funny if you like your protagonist sarcastic, tough, but clearly vulnerable. They do, however, produce some rather average tales mixed in with the top-notch versions. This work lies somewhere in between, and is a worthy read for fans of the series or the author.