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Toby Peters #3
You Bet Your Life
As a hard-boiled Hollywood PI enlists Al Capone’s help to save the Marx Brothers, Kaminsky “makes the totally wacky possible” (The Washington Post). It’s 1941 and the Marx Brothers’ first movie for MGM, Go West, has the country in stitches. But now Chico Marx is worried he’s going to need stitches when he receives a severed ear in the mail—a simple message from a Chicago bookie who wants $120,000, or else. Chico is baffled because, although he loves to gamble, he’s never made a bet in Chicago. Desperate, he turns to the king of Hollywood, Louis B. Mayer, who puts in a call to Toby Peters. A Hollywood private detective who’s proven himself adept at keeping scandals out of the tabloids, Peters flies to Florida for an interview with Al Capone, deposed lord of the Chicago underworld. The retired bootlegger’s mind has gone soft, and he doesn’t know anything about Chico’s bookie, but he suggests Peters speak to his brother. With Scarface’s good word as an introduction, the PI heads to Chicago. But it will take more than a good sense of humor to keep Groucho, Harpo, and especially Chico from getting axed. Edgar Award–winner Stuart Kaminsky’s “Toby Peters series was a delight. They were written with more than a dash of humor and featured a variety of improbable real-life characters, ranging from the Marx Brothers to Judy Garland” (Library Journal).
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1978
52 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Stuart M. Kaminsky
161 books215 followersStuart 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
January 2, 2025
"“And if Al had said something embarrassing?” “Some I warn. You wouldn’t take a warning.” I’m five-nine and 165 pounds dripping wet, which I was at that moment. My face was benign when I was twelve, but it had gradually become semimalignant. My nose was almost flat from too many encounters with an older brother who was now a cop, and my business scars ran, and still run, from my big toe to my forehead. Leonardo thought I looked tough. I’m reconstituted scar tissue and bone, tentatively glued together by a kid doctor in L.A. named Parry. Leonardo could have given me the chance to take a warning. But he was right. I probably wouldn’t have taken it."
Toby Peters is a P.I. to the Stars in Los Angeles, but we find him leaving for Chicago after he has had his chat with Al Capone. Then, before a day goes by, he finds a bullet-riddled body in his hotel closet.
"“For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re lying,” he said, finishing his coffee. “You don’t have a chopper and you’d be one fool to kill a guy in your hotel room and call the cops. It smells like a gang job with you in the middle, but I don’t see how or why."
Toby’s client is Chico Marx, who is reported to be owing a mobster over $100,000 in gambling debts. He gets Groucho and Harpo as well as he sits in on some family discussions. "Groucho and Chico also argued about doing another movie. Groucho said the script about the department store was awful and couldn’t get better. Chico suggested that some things could be done with it. “You know,” he said, “Harp pulls out the harp and gives them a little shit. I play the piano and smile. You push Margaret around and talk to the camera. It always works.” “But it isn’t always good,” countered Groucho. “What we need is Thalberg back from the dead.”"
Toby gets his already beat up body further damaged in the pursuit of the truth. This is a mystery cake with multiple layers and a very heavy coating of 1940s nostalgia frosting. Where else would you find references to dining on Choco-bits and listening to Smilin’ Jack on the radio?
There is some familiarity to the way Toby’s assignments go. The following two quotations seem to capture:
"“No, maybe next time.” “I’ll be back,” I said. “Like hell you will,” she said and leaned over to kiss me. “Life is like a movie to you. One day you’ll get killed and won’t get another role. You’re no damn cartoon dog who comes back together after being cracked or flattened.” I tried to hold her, but I had no muscle for the effort. She pulled away. “You’ve got the address and phone number if you feel like reality,” she said. “Take it easy.” “I can’t,” I said. She shrugged again. “O.K., then, be careful,” and she was gone."
"So how was your trip?” “Not as exciting as your week here,” I said. “Just four bodies. And I got shot.” “Too bad,” he said, without really hearing. His head was back in the catalog."
Toby Peters is a P.I. to the Stars in Los Angeles, but we find him leaving for Chicago after he has had his chat with Al Capone. Then, before a day goes by, he finds a bullet-riddled body in his hotel closet.
"“For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re lying,” he said, finishing his coffee. “You don’t have a chopper and you’d be one fool to kill a guy in your hotel room and call the cops. It smells like a gang job with you in the middle, but I don’t see how or why."
Toby’s client is Chico Marx, who is reported to be owing a mobster over $100,000 in gambling debts. He gets Groucho and Harpo as well as he sits in on some family discussions. "Groucho and Chico also argued about doing another movie. Groucho said the script about the department store was awful and couldn’t get better. Chico suggested that some things could be done with it. “You know,” he said, “Harp pulls out the harp and gives them a little shit. I play the piano and smile. You push Margaret around and talk to the camera. It always works.” “But it isn’t always good,” countered Groucho. “What we need is Thalberg back from the dead.”"
Toby gets his already beat up body further damaged in the pursuit of the truth. This is a mystery cake with multiple layers and a very heavy coating of 1940s nostalgia frosting. Where else would you find references to dining on Choco-bits and listening to Smilin’ Jack on the radio?
There is some familiarity to the way Toby’s assignments go. The following two quotations seem to capture:
"“No, maybe next time.” “I’ll be back,” I said. “Like hell you will,” she said and leaned over to kiss me. “Life is like a movie to you. One day you’ll get killed and won’t get another role. You’re no damn cartoon dog who comes back together after being cracked or flattened.” I tried to hold her, but I had no muscle for the effort. She pulled away. “You’ve got the address and phone number if you feel like reality,” she said. “Take it easy.” “I can’t,” I said. She shrugged again. “O.K., then, be careful,” and she was gone."
"So how was your trip?” “Not as exciting as your week here,” I said. “Just four bodies. And I got shot.” “Too bad,” he said, without really hearing. His head was back in the catalog."
November 2, 2024
Esta novela cambia el ambiente y, aunque el motivo hollywoodense permanece, la accione se traslada al mundo de los gánsteres de Chicago. Por lo demás se mantienen los elementos de la serie: Maltrato continuo al protagonista, una trama que engancha y giros bien desarrollados.
January 23, 2018
Of the first three Toby Peters novels, this is the one which feels least satisfying. For those who don’t know (or don’t recall the last time I reviewed one of these) Toby Peters is a 1940s Hollywood detective whose cases take him to the highs and lows of tinsel-town. So far, we’ve had a case involving Errol Flynn, one with Judy Garland and now we have The Marx Brothers. But even though I spent my adolescence obsessively watching ‘Horse feathers’, ‘Monkey Business’, ‘Duck Soup’, this one is nowhere near as much fun as its predecessors.
For starters it’s set in cold Chicago rather than hot LA, and the fish out of water aspect soon gets tired. Then there’s the fact that Toby Peters has flu for most of it, which makes it a far lower energy affair. While the Marxes themselves are portrayed as much less funny offstage than on – with even Groucho coming across sour rather than witty.
It’s not a bad book by any means. There’s tough guy shenanigans and an appropriately twisty plot, it just feels distinctly average. Hopefully service will return to normal when Toby gets home.
For starters it’s set in cold Chicago rather than hot LA, and the fish out of water aspect soon gets tired. Then there’s the fact that Toby Peters has flu for most of it, which makes it a far lower energy affair. While the Marxes themselves are portrayed as much less funny offstage than on – with even Groucho coming across sour rather than witty.
It’s not a bad book by any means. There’s tough guy shenanigans and an appropriately twisty plot, it just feels distinctly average. Hopefully service will return to normal when Toby gets home.
May 4, 2020
I’ll read another one.
November 30, 2014
The historical guest stars are fun and all feel in character.
The mystery was interesting and suitably twisty-turny. Love who it was that gives our PI hero the crucial clue.
My only problem is the book spends so much time beating on Toby and telling us he's a bit of a loser who is in over his head. It's so overdone it sucks some of the fun out of these books.
Shame as this is a good serious that could be great.
The mystery was interesting and suitably twisty-turny. Love who it was that gives our PI hero the crucial clue.
My only problem is the book spends so much time beating on Toby and telling us he's a bit of a loser who is in over his head. It's so overdone it sucks some of the fun out of these books.
Shame as this is a good serious that could be great.
July 22, 2016
So far this has been my least favorite of this series. The story didn't move as quickly as some of the others. The story is well researched and written. The mystery will keep you guessing until the very unexpected end.
November 30, 2014
After several non-fiction books, I needed something lighter and fictional to distract me, and this book delivered. The portrayals of the Marx Brothers are excellent, and Ian Fleming's appearances add just the right touch.
June 14, 2023
Neste volume, o nosso herói trabalha para os estúdios MGM, num caso envolvendo os irmãos Marx e tendo a ajuda de Ian Fleming. Torna a sofrer o corpinho.
O mestre Raymond Chandler aprovaria.
O mestre Raymond Chandler aprovaria.
January 19, 2025
Another adventure with PI Toby Peters. In this outing, he's trying to clear the name of Chico Marx who has been accused of owing a large sum of money to the mob for gambling debts. Toby's not on home territory this time. He's in Chicago instead of L.A. and makes a couple of new friends that help him out. Sarducci, the cab driver, was very entertaining.
These novels are short audio books that don't require a lot of concentration and are readily available at my library, perfect for a baking day.
These novels are short audio books that don't require a lot of concentration and are readily available at my library, perfect for a baking day.
May 16, 2013
A real fun book of the constantly depressed Toby Peters out to calm the anger of mob guys after Chico Marx, of the Marx Brothers. Much like the rest of the series, Toby encounters others known of the era of the '40s.
Pretty well written, as always. However, there are a few loose ends that, I believe, may have been part of an effort to throw the reader as to who-done-it. Though, to me, it was pretty obvious from near the beginning. This was the first of the Toby Peters series I have read where the bad individual was figured out fast.
The depictions of the Marx brothers, of which I am a solid fan, is quite off from what they were off screen. Harpo was known to have, and I have heard it myself, a deep New York accented voice and Groucho was known to be far more subdued in regular life. Chico's depiction by Kaminsky is what I have read it was.
This book also shows Kaminsky's adept ability to write about Chicago and not Florida, at the time. Chicago is written in such depth, while only a glancing blow is made of an opening scene in Florida. This changes dramatically when Kaminsky writes his Lew Fonesca series based in Sarasota, Florida.
Overall, I recommend the book.
Pretty well written, as always. However, there are a few loose ends that, I believe, may have been part of an effort to throw the reader as to who-done-it. Though, to me, it was pretty obvious from near the beginning. This was the first of the Toby Peters series I have read where the bad individual was figured out fast.
The depictions of the Marx brothers, of which I am a solid fan, is quite off from what they were off screen. Harpo was known to have, and I have heard it myself, a deep New York accented voice and Groucho was known to be far more subdued in regular life. Chico's depiction by Kaminsky is what I have read it was.
This book also shows Kaminsky's adept ability to write about Chicago and not Florida, at the time. Chicago is written in such depth, while only a glancing blow is made of an opening scene in Florida. This changes dramatically when Kaminsky writes his Lew Fonesca series based in Sarasota, Florida.
Overall, I recommend the book.
June 19, 2016
I read Kaminsky's Toby Peters books years ago and remember thoroughly enjoying them, as the intersected with my other great passion, movies. I remember that his portraits of the actual people were fairly accurate and he didn't always paint them in flattering lights. Re-reading the book now (having it read to me on tape actually) I found this one in particular a little flat. He seems to be trying too hard to cross a hard-boiled story with an amusing comic tone. And with the Chicago setting, it reminded me of Collins's Nat Heller books (of which I have only read the first four) and the Kaminsky comes in a far second. There was too much obvious research (the constant mention of the radio shows and songs people were listening to became too much). And ultimately the mystery was pretty obvious early on. All in all, I was disappointed since I remembered the series so fondly.
August 1, 2022
This was an unforgivable, colossal waste of a perfectly good Sunday night. I'm stunned by how awful this book was. I loved the short stories that appeared years ago in “Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine” featuring Toby Peters, the movie buff and amateur sleuth. For whatever reason, this third book in the series about him was just ridiculous. It is full of slapstick stupidity and any other kind of stupidity you can imagine. Perhaps I'm at fault here. This author does magnificent work in his other book series, so it's not him. It might not even be this series. It's possible that this book was just a clunker. If you read it and enjoyed it, my apologies for what may feel like an offensive review. My mind wandered, I almost fell asleep through parts of it, and the parts that were supposed to be funny just weren't. Maybe 30 or 40 years ago it would have been humorous. Today, not so much.
August 30, 2011
1978, #3 Toby Peters, “PI to the Stars”, 1941 Chicago; PI, satirical, historical. Toby takes on “da Mob” as he tries to free Chico Marx from a mysterious gambling debt that Chico says he didn’t incur but which might cost him his life.
Swift-moving, softly satirical time-capsule, filled with wry humor and nice “asides”. The “famous bits” are, thankfully, quite mild and just right - the Marx Brothers come across as people, not caricatures, and the plot hinges on the well-known fact of Chico’s gambling habits. Other real people included are a sadly diminished Al Capone, and a nasty Frank Nitti. Plus there’s a wonderful sequence with Ian Fleming that’s worth the price of admission by itself.
An endearingly wacky series based on solid PI plots. Next up is Howard Hughes...
Swift-moving, softly satirical time-capsule, filled with wry humor and nice “asides”. The “famous bits” are, thankfully, quite mild and just right - the Marx Brothers come across as people, not caricatures, and the plot hinges on the well-known fact of Chico’s gambling habits. Other real people included are a sadly diminished Al Capone, and a nasty Frank Nitti. Plus there’s a wonderful sequence with Ian Fleming that’s worth the price of admission by itself.
An endearingly wacky series based on solid PI plots. Next up is Howard Hughes...
February 29, 2012
This is the third in the Toby Peters mystery series, following on from "Bullet for a star" and "Murder on the Yellow Brick Road". This novel finds Peters hired by Louis B. Mayer to help the Marx Brothers. Chico has been threatened for a gambling debt of $120,000 he claims he doesn't owe, but if he doesn't pay his fingers will be sent to his brothers in a box. So Peters swops the Hollywood Sunshine and heads for Chicago, where almost immediately he catches flu and finds a body in his closet. As always, in this series set in the 1940's, there are great cameo appearances. In this novel we have Al Capone, Ian Fleming and a whole host of Chicago mobsters, along with some great one liners from Groucho Marx. Great fun.
March 22, 2013
What do Al Capone, the Marx Brothers, Ian Fleming, and Richard Daley have in common? Well, they’re all in this book for one. The action leads Toby Peters from Florida to Chicago in #3 of Kaminsky’s “Hollywood” series. This one may be my favorite to date, and although I love the Hollywood history and ‘40s nostalgia, they all end the same way: about 10-15 pages from the end, Peters figures out who the killer is, doesn’t tell the reader, arranges a confrontation and solves the crime. In a first person point of view, if the protagonist thinks it, the readers should know it. Anything else is not playing fair.
March 14, 2013
Audiobook for gym motivation--I can only listen on the treadmill or ellipitical machine and this 1940s gumshoe with a dry sense of humor and a wet cold is the best motivation ever--cameos by Chico Marx, Ian Fleming, etc. all read in voices that match them. I want to listen to a lot more Toby Peters books! Had heard of Stuart Kaminsky over the years but never read him; now seeing what I've been missing!
June 21, 2016
++Peters starts with a visit to Al Capone at a prison in the south, but ends up in Chicago in the winter. The weather isn't all that is cold as he is rousted by the police, chased by gangsters and finds a body in his hotel room. All he is doing is trying to prove that a supposed gambling debt by Chico Marx is bogus. There are more big names dropped in this entertaining detective novel of the 1940s.++
February 14, 2021
Very enjoyable quick read. As in all the Toby Peters books, Toby is working with a famous Hollywood person as a client. Here it is Chico Marx who although a big gambler who always loses, was never in Cicero, Illinois to run up the $120,000 gambling debt which he is accused of. Toby is hired by MGM to get Chico off the hook.
Features guest appearances by Al Capone, Ian Fleming, and all the Marx Brothers.
Features guest appearances by Al Capone, Ian Fleming, and all the Marx Brothers.
August 7, 2008
I listened to this one of eaudiobook. It was a short,quick one. It has been a while since I listened to a Toby Peters mystery by Stuart Kaminsky and I had forgotten how much fun they are. The narrator is fabulous at doing a huge variety of voices. I love how the author incorporates movie stars and celebrities of the 1940's into the storylines. I will have to find more to download soon.
April 8, 2024
Failed to engage me despite numerous references to interesting characters from the era (Capone, the Marx brothers, Ian Fleming.) If you like Kaminsky's Rostnikov novels, beware - the Toby Peters stories are several notches below.
February 28, 2017
Run of the mill and a lighthearted take on the hard boiled detective novel.
July 6, 2023
This was a fun read. I enjoyed it. I’m avid and long-time fan of the Marx Bros. I think Kaminsky did a pretty good job of capturing their personalities overall. However, I think by 1941, Groucho had tired of the movies and his on- screen persona. I don’t think he would have been as glib and helpful to a PI investigating Chico’s gambling and financial problems. Groucho was pretty frustrated with Chico and his gambling by that time- and likely would not be so cooperative and joking about helping Chico. That said, it was to fun to hear Groucho wisecracking as he did in the films.
As a lifelong Chicagoan, I paid close attention to the locales and directions of the characters. I think Peters’s (Kaminsky’s) descriptions and geography of Chicago in 1941 were quite accurate- with one glaring exception. Kaminsky describes Peters going to “Midway Airport”- the south side Chicago airport. 1941, the Southside airport was called “Chicago Municipal Airport”- not Midway. The airport was renamed “Midway Airport” in honor of the Battle of Midway during WWII. The name change to Midway came in 1948, 7 years after the events depicted in the story. Otherwise the book sounded quite accurate, and was a very enjoyable read. I look forward to reading other Toby Peters novels.
As a lifelong Chicagoan, I paid close attention to the locales and directions of the characters. I think Peters’s (Kaminsky’s) descriptions and geography of Chicago in 1941 were quite accurate- with one glaring exception. Kaminsky describes Peters going to “Midway Airport”- the south side Chicago airport. 1941, the Southside airport was called “Chicago Municipal Airport”- not Midway. The airport was renamed “Midway Airport” in honor of the Battle of Midway during WWII. The name change to Midway came in 1948, 7 years after the events depicted in the story. Otherwise the book sounded quite accurate, and was a very enjoyable read. I look forward to reading other Toby Peters novels.
June 2, 2020
I'm enjoying Stuart M. Kaminsky's Toby Peters series, a string of brisk whodunits centering on a grumbly P.I. working in 1940s Los Angeles. Peters' line of work often sets him up with various famous folk of the day, which allows for a lot of fun situations made entirely plausible by the talented Kaminsky. You Bet Your Life is #3 in the series, originally published in 1978 yet reading exactly like a lost Raymond Chandler opus. As we ring in the new year in 1941, Peters is employed by the Metro Goldwyn Mayer studio to look into gambling debts accrued by one of their stars, Chico Marx. This takes Peters to sunny Florida, then to a freezing Chicago where he gets elbows-deep in with the mob. Chico and his brothers Groucho and Harpo come to Peters' aid when his life is threatened. Zippy paced, fun to read, filled with intriguing, period-correct detail—although putting most of the action in Chicago took a lot of the uniqueness away from the story (which is, alas, just another mob yarn). Despite its flaws, I'm looking forward to the rest of the Toby Peters books—all 21 of them.
June 4, 2022
Neanche il tempo di conoscerlo, 'sto Toby Peters, che già ci si trova immersi in una rincorsa a perdifiato tra pedinamenti, pericoli e rapporti umani che davvero fatichiamo a chiamare relazioni.
Giocarsi la pelle è quel tipo poliziesco di cui si sente la mancanza una volta finito. Il detective Peters sembra aver sviluppato più attaccamento al pericolo che non alla sua stessa vita. E da questa peculiarità sgorgano inseguimenti e pallottole che fischiano rasenti alle orecchie, e metodi di lavoro non sempre ben visti dalla commissione di revoca delle licenze da investigatore privato.
E che dire poi delle strane frequentazioni di Peters, che nell'irreale realismo della missione arriva addirittura a stringere la mano ad un bizzarro personaggio britannico, di nome Jan Fleming.
Un libro che racchiude di tutto: i ritmi serrati del poliziesco, un detective dai modi davvero originali e uno stile di scrittura asciutto che catapulta il lettore direttamente alle calcagna di Peters. Inutile sperare di uscirne illesi.
Giocarsi la pelle è quel tipo poliziesco di cui si sente la mancanza una volta finito. Il detective Peters sembra aver sviluppato più attaccamento al pericolo che non alla sua stessa vita. E da questa peculiarità sgorgano inseguimenti e pallottole che fischiano rasenti alle orecchie, e metodi di lavoro non sempre ben visti dalla commissione di revoca delle licenze da investigatore privato.
E che dire poi delle strane frequentazioni di Peters, che nell'irreale realismo della missione arriva addirittura a stringere la mano ad un bizzarro personaggio britannico, di nome Jan Fleming.
Un libro che racchiude di tutto: i ritmi serrati del poliziesco, un detective dai modi davvero originali e uno stile di scrittura asciutto che catapulta il lettore direttamente alle calcagna di Peters. Inutile sperare di uscirne illesi.
October 12, 2024
Quick Summary: A Toby Peters mystery novel
My Review: You Bet Your Life by Stuart Kaminsky is book #3 in the Toby Peters mystery series.
About the Book: "Toby Peters goes to Chicago to clear up a famous comic's gambling debts."
PI Toby Peters is on a new case. This time, we meet the Marx Brothers, Ian Fleming, Capone and more. Wherever he goes, murder is sure to happen and he will somehow wind up as the accused. With foes and friends in high and low places, he gets the job done, however.
Favorite Scene: The impromptu speech made as a psychiatric specialist [given to a room full of professionals in the field]
My Final Say: This is such an interesting series of books. Because of the Old Hollywood theme wrapped in the murder mystery-who-done-it approach, it makes for an entertaining time.
Other: I liked this book, although, there was some derogatory language and references that did not land well with me. As such, that did affect the overall rating.
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level:
Series: Yes
#libraryread
My Review: You Bet Your Life by Stuart Kaminsky is book #3 in the Toby Peters mystery series.
About the Book: "Toby Peters goes to Chicago to clear up a famous comic's gambling debts."
PI Toby Peters is on a new case. This time, we meet the Marx Brothers, Ian Fleming, Capone and more. Wherever he goes, murder is sure to happen and he will somehow wind up as the accused. With foes and friends in high and low places, he gets the job done, however.
Favorite Scene: The impromptu speech made as a psychiatric specialist [given to a room full of professionals in the field]
My Final Say: This is such an interesting series of books. Because of the Old Hollywood theme wrapped in the murder mystery-who-done-it approach, it makes for an entertaining time.
Other: I liked this book, although, there was some derogatory language and references that did not land well with me. As such, that did affect the overall rating.
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level:
Series: Yes
#libraryread
July 22, 2023
A trip back to the noir era .
First review of a book in the Toby Peters Mysteries . I have bought all 24 books in the series . I have read 14 of them so far . They are like little trips into the noir period . Peters is an old fashioned gum shoe . A hard luck , loyal and tenacious hound on the scent . Once he takes the case he follows through to it's conclusion . He gets more than his share of hard knocks , but the mug doesn't quit . The author does a great job at mixing in real celebrities and historical figures into the stories . He paints a nice retro picture of the cities mentioned in the books . He also throws in references to news , sports and entertainment of the period to fill in the trip back in time . TCM noir in a book . If you like old Hollywood detective movies you will enjoy this book and others in the series .
First review of a book in the Toby Peters Mysteries . I have bought all 24 books in the series . I have read 14 of them so far . They are like little trips into the noir period . Peters is an old fashioned gum shoe . A hard luck , loyal and tenacious hound on the scent . Once he takes the case he follows through to it's conclusion . He gets more than his share of hard knocks , but the mug doesn't quit . The author does a great job at mixing in real celebrities and historical figures into the stories . He paints a nice retro picture of the cities mentioned in the books . He also throws in references to news , sports and entertainment of the period to fill in the trip back in time . TCM noir in a book . If you like old Hollywood detective movies you will enjoy this book and others in the series .
May 19, 2024
Peters is in Miami to see Al Capone. MGM has hired him to look into a gambling debt the Chicago mobster, Gene Cervi, claims Chico Marx owes. Capone knows nothing of the debt but lets Toby use his name in order to see his brother Ralph.
Peters gets to Chicago and finds a body in his hotel room. As he investigates, he meets Ian Fleming in a bar, who rescues him when he is attacked.
He has a meeting with State Rep. Richard Daley at City Hall.
He reaches the conclusion that someone was trying to scam the mob. He calls the Marx brothers to come to Chicago. Maybe a meeting with Frank Nitti will clear things up.
More bodies drop. He has dinner at Henrici's. In the end, he discovers who was behind the scam and then is shot.
Peters gets to Chicago and finds a body in his hotel room. As he investigates, he meets Ian Fleming in a bar, who rescues him when he is attacked.
He has a meeting with State Rep. Richard Daley at City Hall.
He reaches the conclusion that someone was trying to scam the mob. He calls the Marx brothers to come to Chicago. Maybe a meeting with Frank Nitti will clear things up.
More bodies drop. He has dinner at Henrici's. In the end, he discovers who was behind the scam and then is shot.
December 11, 2024
This is my favorite of the early Toby Peters books, where Kaminsky seems sure of his game and less likely to rely on tossing in Hollywood trivia in order to hook readers. The plot revolves around Chico (pronounced Chick-o) Marx, and how his gambling problem leads to trouble with gangsters. And not just any gangsters: we're talking Al Capone and Frank Nitti here, among others. Toby is hired by the studio to extricate Chico from his dilemma, and this requires a trip to Chicago, where the brothers are staying.
I think the Chicago setting is what energized Kaminsky in this book. Chicago was his town (see the Abe Lieberman books), and he enjoys taking us for rides in taxis and L trains to various locations. As Toby tries to unravel the mystery, he also manages to interact with Ian Fleming (!) and no less a Chicago luminary than Richard Daley (who has not yet ascended to his eventual position of power). As a Chicago boy myself, I found the story engaging, and it does have a twisty ending for mystery lovers. I did not miss the usual cast of supporting characters; Toby did fine by himself, and made a few new friends along the way.
I think the Chicago setting is what energized Kaminsky in this book. Chicago was his town (see the Abe Lieberman books), and he enjoys taking us for rides in taxis and L trains to various locations. As Toby tries to unravel the mystery, he also manages to interact with Ian Fleming (!) and no less a Chicago luminary than Richard Daley (who has not yet ascended to his eventual position of power). As a Chicago boy myself, I found the story engaging, and it does have a twisty ending for mystery lovers. I did not miss the usual cast of supporting characters; Toby did fine by himself, and made a few new friends along the way.
August 22, 2024
Toby Peters #3............ Chcago, 1941. The Chicago mob says that Chico (pronounced chick-O, not cheek-O) Marx owes them $120,000 and Toby has been hired by Louis B. Mayer to fix this. And of course when you think you have 1 Marx brother you soon have 3. Light, very likeable mystery showcasing amazing and surprising characters and fascinating period detail. I really like the Toby Peters series -- 4 stars.
September 10, 2017
Fast, fun pseudo-noir with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor toward all things of the era. Guest stars, name dropping, topical Chicago references, make for an entertaining read. A breezy series that pays off, especially if you can relate to all the decades-old references.
As an aside, my copy of this book from Mysterious Press had more typos in it than a tommygun has bullets.
As an aside, my copy of this book from Mysterious Press had more typos in it than a tommygun has bullets.
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