Saving Mark Twain

The Lydecker Mysteries #6.5

by William Cheevers

A private investigator with a penchant for diners, old buildings and streetcars searches for an antique gramophone record purported to be the only voice recording of Mark Twain.

58 pages, Paperback

Published July 6, 2019

About the author

William Cheevers writes historical fiction with themes of contemporary interest. He also enjoys writing mysteries featuring Chicago private investigator Frank Lydecker, police detective Andrew Brooke and defense lawyer Adrian Tiller in the transitional world of the 1950s. William's favorite writers are Mark Twain, Joseph Conrad, Eugene O'Neill, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Hemingway, Faulkner, Hammett and Chandler, Doris Kearns Goodwin, David McCullough, Jean Edward Smith and Cormac McCarthy and two of the people from history he admires most are Mark Twain and Albert Einstein.

Reviews

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few years ago I read another book in the Lydecker Mysteries, and I enjoyed it. This one had the same overall feeling, and I liked the premise and the characters. It was just really short.

I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway.

[Fred · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more a short story than a full blown book. Reminded me of a story that is in those online Mystery Magazines. Still it was of interest to mystery and historical fans. Generally well written with a few minor editing errors. Some readers have claimed in was not well developed but in a short 35 pages of writing we are introduced to a number of characters with interesting backgrounds as well as Chicago at that time which is sometime after WWII. The real point of the author is to get the reader interested in Detective Lydecker and supporting characters to read more of the series. I will not do that just yet but perhaps when I get through a few more of my reading lists and favorites.

[Kirk Weikart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frank Lydecker PI is hired by a client who believes he has purchased a record at an estate auction that contains the voice of Mark Twain. Can Lydecker use very few clues to solve the mystery?

The premise of the book is clever and intriguing. The main character is likable and the writing is smooth and easy to read. Unfortunately, the book leaves the reader wanting much more. It is tragedy that this book was only 35 pages long. All of the characters and plotlines were too shallow and superficial, and no two things are ever connected in a deeper manner.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this as part of GoodReads' First Reads program

This short work of fiction is an entertaining little trifle about a detective setting out to find a voice recording of Mark Twain that had been left in a shop for restoration, and then was apparently the cause of a robbery and murder. A very easy and fast read, I finished it in one sitting. If you like noir style detective fiction, this is for you.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept my attention from the first page to the last

[jennifer cecil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story about a detective looking to recover a rare recording of Mark Twain. It was an enjoyable read and I appreciated how it was written like the old detective pulp stories of the past.

[Nancy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc received courtesy of Goodreads.com first reads giveaway.

The story was enjoyable, had a good pace and was a quick read.