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Appointment with Murder
On an October evening in 1949, lawyer turned private detective Lawrence Mallory thinks he’s taking his wife, Kate, out for an evening of wine, lobster, and other frivolities. What he doesn’t realize is that he’s about to embark on the most perplexing and complicated case of his career not to mention the most dangerous.
While at dinner, he and Kate run into Noreen Logan, a somewhat ditzy one-time flapper and an old flame of Mallory’s. Upon learning Mallory is now a private eye, she decides she wants to hire him. It seems her ex-husband, Sam Henderson, owner of a bar called the Blue Angel, wants to meet her later that evening and she’d like to have someone along “just in case.” Mallory agrees, but when he and Kate arrive at the rendezvous spot they find that neither Noreen nor her ex are anywhere to be seen. Who they do find is a very large and unpleasant gentleman Mallory nicknames “Mighty Joe Young” after the oversized ape of movie fame. Before long, Mallory is staggering back to his car with blood dripping down his face, the result of it being whacked by the barrel of the big man’s Luger. After some quick first aid by Kate, they tail Mighty Joe to a doctor’s office where they see an ambulance take a blonde woman away.
Noreen was a blonde.
The next morning, Mallory finds out from Lt. Higgins, a homicide detective and old friend, that Henderson’s body was found in the park across the street from where he and Noreen were to meet. As for Noreen, she’s not only still missing; she’s well on her way to becoming the chief suspect in Henderson’s murder.
Aided by Kate, with whom he trades wisecracks a’ la Nick and Nora, and their teenage daughter who has aspirations of becoming a homicide detective herself, Mallory solves the case and finds out what happened to Noreen and her ex. But it wasn’t easy.
In his own words:
“In the last three days I’ve been pistol whipped, drugged until I was as loopy as a goony bird, shot at, barely avoided being beaten to a pulp, and threatened by everyone but the local bishop.”
Add to that a nasty encounter with a couple of Rottweilers and a shoot-out in the back yard of a powerful industrialist’s mansion and Mallory’s lucky to still be breathing and vertical.
On the bright side, since Henderson was a tavern owner Mallory gets to do a lot of sleuthing in bars (all in the line of duty, as he tells Kate), and he even finds a jovial bartender who makes a near perfect martini, Mallory’s libation of choice. However the bartender, friendly and mixologically gifted as he is, might well be hiding something. But then that can be said of just about everyone Mallory encounters on this case.
While at dinner, he and Kate run into Noreen Logan, a somewhat ditzy one-time flapper and an old flame of Mallory’s. Upon learning Mallory is now a private eye, she decides she wants to hire him. It seems her ex-husband, Sam Henderson, owner of a bar called the Blue Angel, wants to meet her later that evening and she’d like to have someone along “just in case.” Mallory agrees, but when he and Kate arrive at the rendezvous spot they find that neither Noreen nor her ex are anywhere to be seen. Who they do find is a very large and unpleasant gentleman Mallory nicknames “Mighty Joe Young” after the oversized ape of movie fame. Before long, Mallory is staggering back to his car with blood dripping down his face, the result of it being whacked by the barrel of the big man’s Luger. After some quick first aid by Kate, they tail Mighty Joe to a doctor’s office where they see an ambulance take a blonde woman away.
Noreen was a blonde.
The next morning, Mallory finds out from Lt. Higgins, a homicide detective and old friend, that Henderson’s body was found in the park across the street from where he and Noreen were to meet. As for Noreen, she’s not only still missing; she’s well on her way to becoming the chief suspect in Henderson’s murder.
Aided by Kate, with whom he trades wisecracks a’ la Nick and Nora, and their teenage daughter who has aspirations of becoming a homicide detective herself, Mallory solves the case and finds out what happened to Noreen and her ex. But it wasn’t easy.
In his own words:
“In the last three days I’ve been pistol whipped, drugged until I was as loopy as a goony bird, shot at, barely avoided being beaten to a pulp, and threatened by everyone but the local bishop.”
Add to that a nasty encounter with a couple of Rottweilers and a shoot-out in the back yard of a powerful industrialist’s mansion and Mallory’s lucky to still be breathing and vertical.
On the bright side, since Henderson was a tavern owner Mallory gets to do a lot of sleuthing in bars (all in the line of duty, as he tells Kate), and he even finds a jovial bartender who makes a near perfect martini, Mallory’s libation of choice. However the bartender, friendly and mixologically gifted as he is, might well be hiding something. But then that can be said of just about everyone Mallory encounters on this case.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 23, 2021
Good entertaining story, but full of typographical errors.
This is a very entertaining read with a lot of nice plot twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters. I am looking forward to reading more in the series.
That all being said, the Kindle version I read was full of gramitical errors and even a few spelling errors that became a distraction to an otherwise enjoyable reading experience.
After a while, I found myself wondering if anyone had actually proof read and edited the manuscript before publishing.
Hopefully the next book in the series has fewer mistakes.
This is a very entertaining read with a lot of nice plot twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters. I am looking forward to reading more in the series.
That all being said, the Kindle version I read was full of gramitical errors and even a few spelling errors that became a distraction to an otherwise enjoyable reading experience.
After a while, I found myself wondering if anyone had actually proof read and edited the manuscript before publishing.
Hopefully the next book in the series has fewer mistakes.
September 21, 2024
Great Noir private detective novel
What better opening sentence for a Noir private detective novel than this: "We watched as the lobsters danced an underwater ballet across the floor of the viewing tank." This novel has shades of Hammet's detective, Sam Spade.
From that opening sentence, the novel follows a case that private detective Larry Mallory gets himself into. He relies on his wife and daughter to assist him in solving this case. Larry gets pistol whipped, beaten up, and shot at, and that is only in the first several days.
Author Richard Hart has written a fine novel. It has plot twists and suspenseful situations galore. It is very entertaining and humorous. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the editing. There is nothing worse than getting into a good read and coming to a screeching halt because of grammatical mistakes, missing words, and confusing sentences. It is a pet peeve of mine.
Despite those editing errors, this is a good, entertaining tale! I recommend it.
What better opening sentence for a Noir private detective novel than this: "We watched as the lobsters danced an underwater ballet across the floor of the viewing tank." This novel has shades of Hammet's detective, Sam Spade.
From that opening sentence, the novel follows a case that private detective Larry Mallory gets himself into. He relies on his wife and daughter to assist him in solving this case. Larry gets pistol whipped, beaten up, and shot at, and that is only in the first several days.
Author Richard Hart has written a fine novel. It has plot twists and suspenseful situations galore. It is very entertaining and humorous. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the editing. There is nothing worse than getting into a good read and coming to a screeching halt because of grammatical mistakes, missing words, and confusing sentences. It is a pet peeve of mine.
Despite those editing errors, this is a good, entertaining tale! I recommend it.
March 12, 2020
Great humor in a murder mystery!
This is the first of Richard Hart's novels that I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed his story and his style! Lawrence Mallory started out as a trial attorney; he found fortune but little satisfaction. That lead to a career change and a life partner who is well suited to his antics! Mystery, mayhem, and murders abound as Mallory finds himself on the receiving end of some unwelcome fisticuffs while trying to ascertain who the unconscious woman he saw being transported via ambulance to an obscure mental hospital. The tale unravels as Lawrence finds the culprit. I will definitely look for Hart's subsequent stories
This is the first of Richard Hart's novels that I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed his story and his style! Lawrence Mallory started out as a trial attorney; he found fortune but little satisfaction. That lead to a career change and a life partner who is well suited to his antics! Mystery, mayhem, and murders abound as Mallory finds himself on the receiving end of some unwelcome fisticuffs while trying to ascertain who the unconscious woman he saw being transported via ambulance to an obscure mental hospital. The tale unravels as Lawrence finds the culprit. I will definitely look for Hart's subsequent stories
October 21, 2024
Turning the Clock Back on the Detective Novel
I really liked this book. It was an interesting story with a fair amount of clever humor. It was written in the 1940's - 1950's style of detective stories, with a few more modern twists. It's quite possible that younger people will not understand the humor, unless they have read books or watched movies from that era. It has succeeded in leaving me wondering what the next book, in the series, has in store.
I really liked this book. It was an interesting story with a fair amount of clever humor. It was written in the 1940's - 1950's style of detective stories, with a few more modern twists. It's quite possible that younger people will not understand the humor, unless they have read books or watched movies from that era. It has succeeded in leaving me wondering what the next book, in the series, has in store.
June 19, 2019
Off to a good start
It a good story line, anyone can read without worrying about language or sex scenes. Dislike: I’m not an English major but I even found a number of sentences that were not edited correctly.
It a good story line, anyone can read without worrying about language or sex scenes. Dislike: I’m not an English major but I even found a number of sentences that were not edited correctly.
June 15, 2020
An enjoyable experience
This is what a private eye novel is supposed to look like. There's a protagonist. The private eye. There 's a myriad series of characters which have an influence.
This is what a private eye novel is supposed to look like. There's a protagonist. The private eye. There 's a myriad series of characters which have an influence.
January 26, 2018
Exciting who donnit
Mixture of fun, love, and family. It has a good bit of filler, but that was interesting and always funny or educational.
Mixture of fun, love, and family. It has a good bit of filler, but that was interesting and always funny or educational.
November 18, 2018
Good
This book is one where you need to read the next one.this book leaves more questions than answers.so if you're into this.
This book is one where you need to read the next one.this book leaves more questions than answers.so if you're into this.
August 9, 2019
Meh...
It was OK with many typos. Very much like a so-so Spenser.
Writing style could use maturation . Entertaining tho.
It was OK with many typos. Very much like a so-so Spenser.
Writing style could use maturation . Entertaining tho.
August 24, 2020
Pretty Good
This was an easy, entertaining read. It was filled with subtle humor and the characters and the plot were engaging.
This was an easy, entertaining read. It was filled with subtle humor and the characters and the plot were engaging.
October 28, 2024
And???
What happened to the last 5 chapters? Cruised right into a "The End" brick wall just when we were getting somewhere.
What happened to the last 5 chapters? Cruised right into a "The End" brick wall just when we were getting somewhere.
November 21, 2024
Love the humor
Love the humor, easy banter, and all the twists! Very well written! On to book number two. Definitely worth the purchase.
Love the humor, easy banter, and all the twists! Very well written! On to book number two. Definitely worth the purchase.
March 17, 2025
Funny
A breath of air. It's a different mystery that is interesting, funny and I couldn't put it down. A great change of pace.
A breath of air. It's a different mystery that is interesting, funny and I couldn't put it down. A great change of pace.
July 20, 2025
Review
Good book but would have love to see if the Amborse got caught
I like this Mr. Mallory great talent
Good book but would have love to see if the Amborse got caught
I like this Mr. Mallory great talent
October 5, 2025
Good book
Good book, easy to keep up with the story as it is well written. This is Book 1 in the series and I think I will start #2 now.
Good book, easy to keep up with the story as it is well written. This is Book 1 in the series and I think I will start #2 now.
April 5, 2018
Read and enjoyed this book. Reminded me of the crime fiction magazines from my childhood. Loved the period background and was a pleasant way to spend a rainy afternoon. Hope he will take this further.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews