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The Monkey Murder
Stolen diamonds, a monkey shot and cut open, a man returning from India and an inveterate gum chewing nurse, perfect ingredients for Lester Leith to to concoct yet another recipe to recover the diamonds, for himself off course, while sergeant Ackley keeps guessing what exactly happening.
Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 1939
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 6, 2019
COUNTDOWN: Mid-20th Century North American Crime
BOOK/Novella 115 (of 250)
An odd, early, Erle Stanley Gardner writing as A.A.Fair. This is one very funny novella but has a dark, evil villain who commits an act of violence against an animal (but villian gets his dues) that probably would be considered unpublishable today: animal rights had not fully been established. This is an issue, like sexism, xenophobia, racism, and homophobia, that wasn't a big deal in 1939 but is now, thankfully. The plot is just too original to pass by though. If you love all animals, you might want to take a pass on this one. For me, this is just too unique to dismiss from my countdown.
HOOK= 3: A detective reviews local crimes he might want to investigate by looking through newspaper ads, classifieds, etc.
PACE=5: Truly mind-bending on an epic scale. I had to read this one twice to get it all. Gardner stays one step, and maybe a few seconds, ahead of the criminal and everyone else's thoughts and it does come off as comical at times.
PLOT= 4: Lester Leith's valet, Scuttle, is a spy/snitch for the local police department. But Lester knows Scuttle is completely clueless about anything and everything to do with crime and villians. The plot swirls beautiful above the head of Scuttle, and Scuttle is a cut above the head of the police who are literally dumb as doorknobs. It's all played for laughs. There are missing jewels perhaps removed from a dead monkey, but this issue happens after-the-fact. The superstitions about monkeys and the stupidity of the cast (other than Lester) are the stars of the show.
CHARACTERS=2: This is my first encounter with Lester. Oh, he is a sly one. He plays around with Scuttle and the cops as if they are his personal playthings, his own pet monkeys and that's the connection to the monkey. Still, I gotta take away 2 stars for implied animal cruelty (by a villian) from my original 4-star cast rating.
ATMOSPHERE=3:Lester's rich bachelor pad is full of adornments such as a sound-proof phone booth and more. There is a train station, a roadside robbery and more, but in so few words, Garnder has few chances at atmosphere.
SUMMARY=My overall rating is 3.4. The plot is a standout among Gardner's body of work. And so many crime writers who reached their peak in the 30s, 40s, and 50s started out with short stories and novellas.
BOOK/Novella 115 (of 250)
An odd, early, Erle Stanley Gardner writing as A.A.Fair. This is one very funny novella but has a dark, evil villain who commits an act of violence against an animal (but villian gets his dues) that probably would be considered unpublishable today: animal rights had not fully been established. This is an issue, like sexism, xenophobia, racism, and homophobia, that wasn't a big deal in 1939 but is now, thankfully. The plot is just too original to pass by though. If you love all animals, you might want to take a pass on this one. For me, this is just too unique to dismiss from my countdown.
HOOK= 3: A detective reviews local crimes he might want to investigate by looking through newspaper ads, classifieds, etc.
PACE=5: Truly mind-bending on an epic scale. I had to read this one twice to get it all. Gardner stays one step, and maybe a few seconds, ahead of the criminal and everyone else's thoughts and it does come off as comical at times.
PLOT= 4: Lester Leith's valet, Scuttle, is a spy/snitch for the local police department. But Lester knows Scuttle is completely clueless about anything and everything to do with crime and villians. The plot swirls beautiful above the head of Scuttle, and Scuttle is a cut above the head of the police who are literally dumb as doorknobs. It's all played for laughs. There are missing jewels perhaps removed from a dead monkey, but this issue happens after-the-fact. The superstitions about monkeys and the stupidity of the cast (other than Lester) are the stars of the show.
CHARACTERS=2: This is my first encounter with Lester. Oh, he is a sly one. He plays around with Scuttle and the cops as if they are his personal playthings, his own pet monkeys and that's the connection to the monkey. Still, I gotta take away 2 stars for implied animal cruelty (by a villian) from my original 4-star cast rating.
ATMOSPHERE=3:Lester's rich bachelor pad is full of adornments such as a sound-proof phone booth and more. There is a train station, a roadside robbery and more, but in so few words, Garnder has few chances at atmosphere.
SUMMARY=My overall rating is 3.4. The plot is a standout among Gardner's body of work. And so many crime writers who reached their peak in the 30s, 40s, and 50s started out with short stories and novellas.
March 11, 2024
Extremely awesome, fun filled adventure. I love Lester Leith stories, I wish I could get to read all of them or was born when they were published regularly! :D
Apart from the usual fun, whats satisfying is that Beever gets his revenge at the end. :D
Apart from the usual fun, whats satisfying is that Beever gets his revenge at the end. :D
August 9, 2024
The plot is fantastical hokum with Indian jewels hidden in monkeys, a crooked chauffeurs, a bevvy of gum chewing secretaries and canes with fake compartments and the old switcheroo. The funny gentleman thief who only seems to steal from thieves is nevertheless under permanent surveillance by a police spy pretending to be the thief's manservant. The spy tempts him into these odd crimes with newspaper clippings in an effort to nab him. The thief of course gets the last laugh. Bonkers but very enjoyable for all that.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews