Nervous Laughter

Thomas Black #3

by Earl Emerson

"Destined to rank among the best of the new generation of American private eye writers."
--Chicago Sun-Times

Thomas Black hits P.I. pay dirt when he shadows a alleged philanderer to a tryst. But instead of two illicit lovers, he finds two bodies, an apparent murder-suicide. The dead man's grieving widow doesn't believe her late husband pulled the trigger--on his lover or himself.

Everyone--including Black's own sexy client--seems to be hiding something. Maybe the name of the murdered man's equally dead girlfriend, Bea Hindenburg, should have warned Black that this case was destined to crash and burn. . . .

"Emerson's sense of creating lean plot and dialogue improves with each book."
--The Seattle Times

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

277 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Earl Emerson is a lieutenant in the Seattle Fire Department. He is the Shamus Award-winning author of Vertical Burn, as well as the Thomas Black detective series. He lives in North Bend, Washington.

Reviews

[Bill Yarbrough · Rating 4 out of 5]

9 out of 10 stars. This story had an unusual ending for the guilty party---reason I gave it a higher rating.

[LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

NERVOUS LAUGHTER - Ex
Emerson, Earl - 3d in series

Thomas Black hits P.I. pay dirt when he shadows a alleged philanderer to a tryst. But instead of two illicit lovers, he finds two bodies, an apparent murder-suicide. The dead man's grieving widow doesn't believe her late husband pulled the trigger--on his lover or himself.

Everyone--including Black's own sexy client--seems to be hiding something. Maybe the name of the murdered man's equally dead girlfriend, Bea Hindenburg, should have warned Black that this case was destined to crash and burn. . . .

Really like the character. I shall definitely read more of this series.

[Monty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third in the Thomas Black Mystery Series set in Seattle in the mid 1980s. There were plenty of charachters, Seattle scenes and subplots to follow with lots of action expecially towards the end. I really got a kick out of how the author wove the characters and stories together. This is a great change of pace book (I learned recently that some people call it brain candy). I definitely will read the rest of the series.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#3 in the Thomas Black series. This entry was a finalist for the 1987 Shamus Award for Best Paperback.

Thomas Black series - Thomas Black hits pay dirt when he shadows an alleged philanderer to a tryst. But instead of two illicit lovers, he finds two bodies, an apparent murder-suicide. The dead man's grieving widow doesn't believe her late husband pulled the trigger--on his lover or himself.
Everyone--including Black's own sexy client--seems to be hiding something.

[aPriL does feral sometimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most ironic so far in the Thomas Black series! Plus, lots of action, fist fights, and seedy haunts, with a ick ending that actually has you teetering between nervous laughter or tossing your cookies!

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Thomas Black mystery with an unexpected ending. Hired to tail a philandering husband, Black finds him & his girlfriend dead. The police think it is a suicide, but Black thinks otherwise. Good series entry. Recommended.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this series because it was set in Seattle but this one really did not grab me.

[Cynthia Kok · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of Earl Emerson I have read. I little dated, but the story was ok. Should have read the first of his series.

[Toesnorth's mom]

stupid, boring, same old tough det.

[Dale Rosso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, could not put it down.