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Krug and Kellog #2
Susannah Screaming
THE SECOND BLOCKBUSTER THRILLER IN THE KRUG & KELLOG SERIES…WHICH BECAME THE HIT TV SHOW “THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO”
It’s the turbulent 1970s, a time of social upheaval. University-educated ex-surfer Casey Kellog is the youngest homicide detective on the force. He’s teamed up with Al Krug, an older, tougher, street-wise cop resistant to change. Their latest case involves a vicious hit-and-run death: a driver in a Mercedes chases a motorcyclist, hits him, and then backs up over him again, making certain that he’s road kill. The investigation takes a bizarre turn when the victim is undressed in the morgue and the two cops discover that his corpse is plastic-wrapped in twenty-dollar bills…
It’s the turbulent 1970s, a time of social upheaval. University-educated ex-surfer Casey Kellog is the youngest homicide detective on the force. He’s teamed up with Al Krug, an older, tougher, street-wise cop resistant to change. Their latest case involves a vicious hit-and-run death: a driver in a Mercedes chases a motorcyclist, hits him, and then backs up over him again, making certain that he’s road kill. The investigation takes a bizarre turn when the victim is undressed in the morgue and the two cops discover that his corpse is plastic-wrapped in twenty-dollar bills…
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1975
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57 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Weston
25 books4 followersCarolyn Weston grew up in Hollywood during the Depression. She played hooky from school in movie theaters and libraries, honing the craft that would make her books so remarkable. During World War II, she worked in an aircraft plant and then did odd jobs around the country before writing Poor Poor Ophelia, the first Al Krug / Casey Kellog police procedural… which became the hit TV series "The Streets of San Francisco". Two more books in the series, every bit as good as Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct and just as memorable, followed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 5, 2015
A new author for me and a good one in this Police thriller. A man, Rees, watches in horror as a car run a man and backs up and runs over again. When the police arrive he has secret and can't tell the truth. The senior cop Klug decides he is an ex-con and probably guilty. The Junior cop, Casey has an open mind. Bodies that seem connected to the case keep turning. There are several turns in the story that will keep you busy.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Brash Books through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Brash Books through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
July 12, 2015
Casey Kellog and Al Krug are two homicide detectives working for the Santa Monica Police Department. Kellog is young and has a college education; Krug is older, cranky, and curmudgeonly... and very resistant to new ideas. Their partnership has its ups and downs. Their latest case involves a hit-and-run death and centers around two witnesses to the crime, whose testimony does not agree. Paul Rees, new to town, was doing his laundry in an all-night laundromat; Susannah Roche is an actress and a free spirit.
This book was originally published in 1975 and was the second in a three book series about Kellog and Krug. The first book, Poor, Poor Ophelia, was published in 1972 and a new TV series, The Streets of San Francisco, was based on that book. The pilot for the series came out in 1972 also.
I always enjoy a police procedural, but this story also includes a closer look at the witnesses and how the crime affects their lives. That same scenario is also often used in The Streets of San Francisco episodes. We have watched episodes from the first two seasons of that show over the last two years, so I have seen a lot of them.
The depiction of Santa Monica in the 70's felt realistic. Some reviewers noted that the story was dated. It does reflect the time it was written in, and I find that charming, not irritating. Of course I was around in the 70's, and maybe that is the difference. I often read books from previous decades to learn (or remember) what those times were like. Or to hear about them from a different perspective or point of view.
This book was originally published in 1975 and was the second in a three book series about Kellog and Krug. The first book, Poor, Poor Ophelia, was published in 1972 and a new TV series, The Streets of San Francisco, was based on that book. The pilot for the series came out in 1972 also.
I always enjoy a police procedural, but this story also includes a closer look at the witnesses and how the crime affects their lives. That same scenario is also often used in The Streets of San Francisco episodes. We have watched episodes from the first two seasons of that show over the last two years, so I have seen a lot of them.
The depiction of Santa Monica in the 70's felt realistic. Some reviewers noted that the story was dated. It does reflect the time it was written in, and I find that charming, not irritating. Of course I was around in the 70's, and maybe that is the difference. I often read books from previous decades to learn (or remember) what those times were like. Or to hear about them from a different perspective or point of view.
March 4, 2022
By half of the book I realized that a lot of the first book was repeated, as far as characterization of protagonists and secondary characters such as the coroner went, which is expected for consistency, but also of the frame: a red herring with the false suspect, some dirty past but not linked to the original case... David Farr and Rees are similarly scared of the police although for diverse reasons, both unsuccesfully try to woo women in ambiguous situations , and they both have this hippie outlook though Susannah is a lot more cynical than Holly. And down to a T with the resolution
Some new developments are welcome, Casey Kellogg is in love . This, at least, brings some humor to the table from Krug's command to get married and the teasing, and Casey's own silly fantasies.
These elements in the protagonists still manage to be echoes of the core in The Streets of San Francisco's characterization, even if Krug remains way more rude and cynical than Karl Malden's Mike Stone would ever be.
Here in hopes that the final book of the series will be better.
Some new developments are welcome, Casey Kellogg is in love . This, at least, brings some humor to the table from Krug's command to get married and the teasing, and Casey's own silly fantasies.
These elements in the protagonists still manage to be echoes of the core in The Streets of San Francisco's characterization, even if Krug remains way more rude and cynical than Karl Malden's Mike Stone would ever be.
Here in hopes that the final book of the series will be better.
January 22, 2016
i had heard so much about this book and was excited to start reading it but that was where the excitement ended. I couldn't grasp the language used in this book as it think it was to dated for me .
Thanks to Netgalley for approving me for this title
Thanks to Netgalley for approving me for this title
March 10, 2019
Good police procedural
Written in the 70's this novel with old jadedcop and eager young cop. Most interesting is the Rees, an ex-con who had killed his wife's killer in a fight and is unwittingly becomes a suspect in a series of crimes.
Written in the 70's this novel with old jadedcop and eager young cop. Most interesting is the Rees, an ex-con who had killed his wife's killer in a fight and is unwittingly becomes a suspect in a series of crimes.
June 3, 2019
Slow start but keeps you reading
Love the location as I worked in Santa Month ca for 17 years
I did have a bit of a challenge getting into the story but then enjoyed the characters and the twists and turns
Love the location as I worked in Santa Month ca for 17 years
I did have a bit of a challenge getting into the story but then enjoyed the characters and the twists and turns
January 3, 2022
Hard to follow.
Many characters. You will need your full attention to keep them straight. I usually read two books at same time, so harder for me to follow. Didn’t think this as good as 2 others I read in series.
Many characters. You will need your full attention to keep them straight. I usually read two books at same time, so harder for me to follow. Didn’t think this as good as 2 others I read in series.
September 6, 2023
I liked the setting and writing style and etc. quite a bit -- but the actual plot was hard to follow, for this one. I would give it a 3.3 or 3.4.
June 1, 2018
Another really good read. Really enjoying this police story line blasting in from the past.
May 13, 2015
It’s 4 AM in a deserted laundromat and Paul Rees is the witness to a murder: a black Mercedes that runs down a motorcyclist, the driver making sure that the biker is well and truly hit before peeling off into the night. Detectives Krug and Kellogg are assigned the case, running afoul of two complications. First is another witness, Susannah Roche, who makes contradictory claims of the murder car in question. Second is Rees’ own dark past—a tragic death, a murder, and a criminal record that makes Rees too leery to tell cops the truth, and makes him a prime suspect. He hits it off well with the mod-chic actress Susannah, and starts to spend his nights out partying, falling for a girl whose secrets make him a bit uneasy. More mysterious for Krug and Kellogg, the dead biker’s autopsy finds him loaded to the gills—he’s saran-wrapped with thousands of counterfeit tens and twenties, his “million-dollar shroud.”
Aside from the sharp plot, the unique thing about the Krug and Kellogg novels (of which this is the second, after 1972's Poor Poor Ophelia) is that Weston spends as much time following the suspect as the starring detectives. It’s as much a police procedural as a psychological drama playing within Rees’ head as he attempts to clear his name, not looking forward to another stay in the pen. This also means that Rees gets better characterization than Krug or Kellogg; Kellogg has enough character to become the sympathetic “good cop,” but Krug remains something of a grumpy cliche, and could really use some development to show how he became such a curmudgeon. (It helps a bit to have read the first novel, but it’s not a requirement, and Susannah Screaming could work as a standalone read.) Weston’s writing style is smooth, with some stylish Southern California atmosphere; despite the twisty-turny plot with several surprises, the novel is easy to follow and even easier to be drawn into.
Susannah Screaming is a decent ’70s police procedural with a few great twists; some of its elements are typical of the genre, while others stand out: the setup is slick, the plotting is intricate, and the divided focus between the witness/suspect and the detectives offers a unique balance between characters. Overall it holds up rather well, and is an entertaining entry by an almost-forgotten author. It puts another solid entry in Brash’s lineup, one that will appeal to crime readers who don’t mind a flashback to the groovy mid-70s.
(3.5 stars, rounded up to four.)
Full review, and other mystery/crime book reviews, on my blog.
Aside from the sharp plot, the unique thing about the Krug and Kellogg novels (of which this is the second, after 1972's Poor Poor Ophelia) is that Weston spends as much time following the suspect as the starring detectives. It’s as much a police procedural as a psychological drama playing within Rees’ head as he attempts to clear his name, not looking forward to another stay in the pen. This also means that Rees gets better characterization than Krug or Kellogg; Kellogg has enough character to become the sympathetic “good cop,” but Krug remains something of a grumpy cliche, and could really use some development to show how he became such a curmudgeon. (It helps a bit to have read the first novel, but it’s not a requirement, and Susannah Screaming could work as a standalone read.) Weston’s writing style is smooth, with some stylish Southern California atmosphere; despite the twisty-turny plot with several surprises, the novel is easy to follow and even easier to be drawn into.
Susannah Screaming is a decent ’70s police procedural with a few great twists; some of its elements are typical of the genre, while others stand out: the setup is slick, the plotting is intricate, and the divided focus between the witness/suspect and the detectives offers a unique balance between characters. Overall it holds up rather well, and is an entertaining entry by an almost-forgotten author. It puts another solid entry in Brash’s lineup, one that will appeal to crime readers who don’t mind a flashback to the groovy mid-70s.
(3.5 stars, rounded up to four.)
Full review, and other mystery/crime book reviews, on my blog.
June 17, 2015
Susannah Screaming is set in Santa Monica in the 60's. It's a police procedural and a fast paced thriller to boot. It begins with a hapless lonely guy at the all night laundromat who happens to witness a murder, which looks for all the world to the cops who are investigating like a hit and run. The thing is, Paul Rees had seen the Mercedes run over the motorcyclist, back up, and run over him again. But the police are skeptical, particularly when another witness describes a different kind of car. The woman seems like a local, whereas Paul sounds kind of sketchy, like he has something to hide.
But when the medical examiner gets a chance to see the body, he is somewhat taken aback that what should be a naked corpse is covered in cellophane wrap, encasing the body in many, many $20.00 bills. Maybe Mr. Rees' story sounds a little more plausible now.
Al Krug, the older cop, can't get passed his deep doubt about Mr. Rees and continues to think of him as more of a suspect than a witness. It doesn't take long to learn that he is a recently released convict, who was in prison for attacking the man who had run over his wife a couple of years ago. The female witness is Susannah Roche, who says she is an actress, but the older cop has her pegged as a prostitute who was likely on her way home from a "date" when she witnessed the accident.
As morning comes, the police partners, Krug and the younger cop Casey Kellog have finished interviewing the witnesses and release them, but the very tired officers find that their superior officer is extending their shifts. All that money might be counterfeit and has attracted the attention of the Fraud Unit, and perhaps the Feds. There is a lot of investigating yet to do.
In the meantime, Paul and Susannah have spent enough time together at the police station that he gathers up his courage and asks her to breakfast. He begins to dream that there might be a chance for the elusive Joy to return to his life, and he and Susannah plan to meet later for dinner. But the more involved the case gets, the more the hapless Mr. Rees seems to look to the police as if he might be in on the counterfeiting. Why else would he be so nervous?
Lots of twists and turns and funky characters, not to mention the tension between the older experienced cop and his younger partner, who is more into thinking and analyzing...practices which don't hold a candle to experience, as Krug likes to point out.
Really entertaining, fast paced reading. I highly recommend it and intend to watch for more work from Carolyn Weston. The book is published by Brash Books, which provided the e-book I read on my Kindle App.
But when the medical examiner gets a chance to see the body, he is somewhat taken aback that what should be a naked corpse is covered in cellophane wrap, encasing the body in many, many $20.00 bills. Maybe Mr. Rees' story sounds a little more plausible now.
Al Krug, the older cop, can't get passed his deep doubt about Mr. Rees and continues to think of him as more of a suspect than a witness. It doesn't take long to learn that he is a recently released convict, who was in prison for attacking the man who had run over his wife a couple of years ago. The female witness is Susannah Roche, who says she is an actress, but the older cop has her pegged as a prostitute who was likely on her way home from a "date" when she witnessed the accident.
As morning comes, the police partners, Krug and the younger cop Casey Kellog have finished interviewing the witnesses and release them, but the very tired officers find that their superior officer is extending their shifts. All that money might be counterfeit and has attracted the attention of the Fraud Unit, and perhaps the Feds. There is a lot of investigating yet to do.
In the meantime, Paul and Susannah have spent enough time together at the police station that he gathers up his courage and asks her to breakfast. He begins to dream that there might be a chance for the elusive Joy to return to his life, and he and Susannah plan to meet later for dinner. But the more involved the case gets, the more the hapless Mr. Rees seems to look to the police as if he might be in on the counterfeiting. Why else would he be so nervous?
Lots of twists and turns and funky characters, not to mention the tension between the older experienced cop and his younger partner, who is more into thinking and analyzing...practices which don't hold a candle to experience, as Krug likes to point out.
Really entertaining, fast paced reading. I highly recommend it and intend to watch for more work from Carolyn Weston. The book is published by Brash Books, which provided the e-book I read on my Kindle App.
June 7, 2015
Susannah Screaming by Carolyn Weston is a 2015 Brash Books Publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What a wonderful caper style mystery set in San Francisco in the 1970's featuring Al Krug and Casey Kellogg.
When Rees decides to do his laundry at a rather unusual time of the morning he witnesses a hit and run car crash. Badly shaken, he calls the police, who discovers there is another witness, a young woman named Susannah. The veteran officer, Krug takes an immediate dislike to Rees, pegs him as con-man and therefore somehow involved, while Casey, relatively new to the force, tries to take a less cynical view of things.
When you read this book, you will need to stay focused on the plot, because this is not just a run of the mill police procedural, but is instead a case dealing with a very well thought out counterfeit ring, so there are lots of sudden shifts and changes, and twist and turns, which gives the story a caper style atmosphere.
I loved the era the story was written in, and the story is top notch. Despite the out of date lingo, ( the Fuzz! LOL! ) the story itself stands the test of time wonderfully. I was challenged, engaged, engrossed, and thoroughly entertained. Krug is crusty, cynical and can read people quite well, but his jaded attitude can hinder him at times, while Casey has a more open mind and is able to look at the situation with a more unbiased eye, but he is also misses some ques, his partner picks up due to his experience. This is what makes them a great team and I loved the banter between them.
For those of you too young to remember, this book series was the basis for the popular cop show “The Streets of San Francisco” which starred Karl Malden and Michael Douglas and aired from 1972-1977.
Overall this is a solid crime drama and I enjoyed spending my Saturday afternoon with Krug and Kellogg. 4 stars
What a wonderful caper style mystery set in San Francisco in the 1970's featuring Al Krug and Casey Kellogg.
When Rees decides to do his laundry at a rather unusual time of the morning he witnesses a hit and run car crash. Badly shaken, he calls the police, who discovers there is another witness, a young woman named Susannah. The veteran officer, Krug takes an immediate dislike to Rees, pegs him as con-man and therefore somehow involved, while Casey, relatively new to the force, tries to take a less cynical view of things.
When you read this book, you will need to stay focused on the plot, because this is not just a run of the mill police procedural, but is instead a case dealing with a very well thought out counterfeit ring, so there are lots of sudden shifts and changes, and twist and turns, which gives the story a caper style atmosphere.
I loved the era the story was written in, and the story is top notch. Despite the out of date lingo, ( the Fuzz! LOL! ) the story itself stands the test of time wonderfully. I was challenged, engaged, engrossed, and thoroughly entertained. Krug is crusty, cynical and can read people quite well, but his jaded attitude can hinder him at times, while Casey has a more open mind and is able to look at the situation with a more unbiased eye, but he is also misses some ques, his partner picks up due to his experience. This is what makes them a great team and I loved the banter between them.
For those of you too young to remember, this book series was the basis for the popular cop show “The Streets of San Francisco” which starred Karl Malden and Michael Douglas and aired from 1972-1977.
Overall this is a solid crime drama and I enjoyed spending my Saturday afternoon with Krug and Kellogg. 4 stars
July 21, 2015
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I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.
I do enjoy murder mysteries trying to figure out who done the crime is always fun to read. This story started off kind of slow even with the hit and run happening pretty quickly. I think the only character I kind of liked was Rees. He is an ex-con and he gets pulled into a web of deceit pretty quickly. Himself along with another person are the witness to the hit and run. Rees seems to be telling the truth on what he saw, but the other witness seems to be holding something back. She comes across as a shady character and it is not because she is a so called "actress". Two cops are investigating the hit and run death but one cop Krug who has been on the force for a long time believes Rees is not telling the whole truth, he is guilty of something. Krug's partner Casey is pretty fresh behind the ears but doesn't believe Rees is really involved with anything to do with the murder or the counterfeit money that has come into play. It is really a race against time to figure out what is going on who is murdering people and what exactly is Rees's role in it all. Is he just an ex-con that picked the wrong time and place to be, or is he in the loop with other criminals?
There is some action through out the story nothing to much I think the best action was with the chasing of the U-haul truck with Casey in pursuit.
I dislike books that use the r word it is something that should not be said and that even goes when describing a child, this helped drop my rating down even though it was only used once I think the author could have picked a better way to describe said child.
With this book being set in the 70's some way the words were told and used I had to get use to like teenybopper, and groovy you don't hear these words now a days so when they are in a book you have to remember the time period.
I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.
I do enjoy murder mysteries trying to figure out who done the crime is always fun to read. This story started off kind of slow even with the hit and run happening pretty quickly. I think the only character I kind of liked was Rees. He is an ex-con and he gets pulled into a web of deceit pretty quickly. Himself along with another person are the witness to the hit and run. Rees seems to be telling the truth on what he saw, but the other witness seems to be holding something back. She comes across as a shady character and it is not because she is a so called "actress". Two cops are investigating the hit and run death but one cop Krug who has been on the force for a long time believes Rees is not telling the whole truth, he is guilty of something. Krug's partner Casey is pretty fresh behind the ears but doesn't believe Rees is really involved with anything to do with the murder or the counterfeit money that has come into play. It is really a race against time to figure out what is going on who is murdering people and what exactly is Rees's role in it all. Is he just an ex-con that picked the wrong time and place to be, or is he in the loop with other criminals?
There is some action through out the story nothing to much I think the best action was with the chasing of the U-haul truck with Casey in pursuit.
I dislike books that use the r word it is something that should not be said and that even goes when describing a child, this helped drop my rating down even though it was only used once I think the author could have picked a better way to describe said child.
With this book being set in the 70's some way the words were told and used I had to get use to like teenybopper, and groovy you don't hear these words now a days so when they are in a book you have to remember the time period.
May 2, 2015
I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley.
The book didn't really live up to the intrigue of the blurb for me. The blurb talks about homicide detective Casey Kellogg and his parter, Al Krug - while both were present as the cops investigating, I felt like they were incredibly minor characters, when I expected them to be much bigger. I didn't feel like I got to know either of them at all.
The plot seemed a bit thin to me, as well - Rees witnesses an early morning murder, but no one wants to believe him. His past doesn't help him with the police, but for me, it makes me question the rest of what happens. He meets Susannah, who does the screaming, as a result of the murder. Everything that happens between the two of them seems a bit of a stretch for me, and even as things are wrapped up toward the end, I still found myself with too many unanswered questions.
The book is set in the 1970s, and it was written in the 70s too, so it does have a good sense of realism about the time period, though it could have had more. In fact, had I not read the blurb, the only thing that would have really given me a clue about the decade would have been the way Susannah speaks (words like heavy, groovy, and man get dropped a lot), and the lack of cell phones. Although the way Susannah speaks actually just confused me at first until I glanced at the blurb again and remembered the time period.
It's not a bad book, overall. Given how old the book is, it's a pretty decent book. I just think it could have been better.
The book didn't really live up to the intrigue of the blurb for me. The blurb talks about homicide detective Casey Kellogg and his parter, Al Krug - while both were present as the cops investigating, I felt like they were incredibly minor characters, when I expected them to be much bigger. I didn't feel like I got to know either of them at all.
The plot seemed a bit thin to me, as well - Rees witnesses an early morning murder, but no one wants to believe him. His past doesn't help him with the police, but for me, it makes me question the rest of what happens. He meets Susannah, who does the screaming, as a result of the murder. Everything that happens between the two of them seems a bit of a stretch for me, and even as things are wrapped up toward the end, I still found myself with too many unanswered questions.
The book is set in the 1970s, and it was written in the 70s too, so it does have a good sense of realism about the time period, though it could have had more. In fact, had I not read the blurb, the only thing that would have really given me a clue about the decade would have been the way Susannah speaks (words like heavy, groovy, and man get dropped a lot), and the lack of cell phones. Although the way Susannah speaks actually just confused me at first until I glanced at the blurb again and remembered the time period.
It's not a bad book, overall. Given how old the book is, it's a pretty decent book. I just think it could have been better.
May 11, 2015
Casey Kellogg and Al Krug are partners on the Santa Monica police department and as different as two men could be. Kruger, a cop more than twenty years, is old school, hardheaded when he gets an idea in his head. Kellogg is young, college educated, and willing to embrace new ideas.
The case they get is a man on a motorcycle hit by a car in an alley. They have two witnesses with differing stories. Rees calls it murder, saying the driver backed up over him a second time. Susannah says it's simply hit and run and both have completely opposite descriptions of the car.
The body is unusual as well. The torso is completely wrapped in Saran Wrap and between that and the skin are 1500 crisp new twenty dollar bills. Which turn out be high class counterfeit.
As the two detectives get into the investigation, they learn Rees is an ex-con, just out of prison and in possession of a large amount of cash. Real cash. And the two witnesses hook up, further clouding things.
Krug believes Rees is part of whatever's going. Kellogg wonders why he would report a murder if he was involved.
Then Susannah takes a header out of a tenth floor window.
Nicely plotted tale with a few twists along the way. Brash Books is the new publisher, bringing old crime back into print. Susannah Screaming is the second novel of three, the first which served as the source material for The Streets of San Francisco pilot.
Recommended.
The case they get is a man on a motorcycle hit by a car in an alley. They have two witnesses with differing stories. Rees calls it murder, saying the driver backed up over him a second time. Susannah says it's simply hit and run and both have completely opposite descriptions of the car.
The body is unusual as well. The torso is completely wrapped in Saran Wrap and between that and the skin are 1500 crisp new twenty dollar bills. Which turn out be high class counterfeit.
As the two detectives get into the investigation, they learn Rees is an ex-con, just out of prison and in possession of a large amount of cash. Real cash. And the two witnesses hook up, further clouding things.
Krug believes Rees is part of whatever's going. Kellogg wonders why he would report a murder if he was involved.
Then Susannah takes a header out of a tenth floor window.
Nicely plotted tale with a few twists along the way. Brash Books is the new publisher, bringing old crime back into print. Susannah Screaming is the second novel of three, the first which served as the source material for The Streets of San Francisco pilot.
Recommended.
December 13, 2015
2.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Brash Books for this free readers edition. In exchange I am providing an honest review.
Written in 1975 I got a giggle out of this title. At one point one of the main detectives is grumbling about how everyone thinks they are a detective or lawyer now that Perry Mason is on TV. It made me giggle because in 1975 that was certainly true but since then the number of detective/police shows on has probably tripled or more, imagine what that detective would think of it all now!
This title is book 2 in a series Weston wrote back in the 70's. I had never heard of it. A guy witnesses a deadly hit and run and it unknowingly, at the time, puts him right in the middle of a ongoing crime. The detectives on the case are two partners who land in two different generations and therefore two different ways of sleuthing. The older detective ticked me off - he's the stereotype for a bad cop. And his partner says it well in one part of the book, discovering evidence and steering evidence are two different things and provide very different outcomes. Cops who steer evidence fan a flame of anger in me.
This was a decent enough read, weird to be transported back to the 70's with the language and technology use but fun also.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brash Books for this free readers edition. In exchange I am providing an honest review.
Written in 1975 I got a giggle out of this title. At one point one of the main detectives is grumbling about how everyone thinks they are a detective or lawyer now that Perry Mason is on TV. It made me giggle because in 1975 that was certainly true but since then the number of detective/police shows on has probably tripled or more, imagine what that detective would think of it all now!
This title is book 2 in a series Weston wrote back in the 70's. I had never heard of it. A guy witnesses a deadly hit and run and it unknowingly, at the time, puts him right in the middle of a ongoing crime. The detectives on the case are two partners who land in two different generations and therefore two different ways of sleuthing. The older detective ticked me off - he's the stereotype for a bad cop. And his partner says it well in one part of the book, discovering evidence and steering evidence are two different things and provide very different outcomes. Cops who steer evidence fan a flame of anger in me.
This was a decent enough read, weird to be transported back to the 70's with the language and technology use but fun also.
July 27, 2015
It’s the 1960’s, and detectives Casey and Krug have a pair of corpses on their hands. The first is a man papered head to toe with counterfeit money. The second is Susannah, who screamed all the way down to the pavement. Did she jump, or was she pushed? And at this point, I should thank Net Galley and Brash Books for hooking me up with the DRC. I read this title free in exchange for my review.
Rees spent the night with Susannah, and he’s in double trouble. He looks guilty to Casey and Krug; for one thing, he keeps lying, and why would an innocent man lie? But Rees has his own reasons. He’s an ex-con, and he’s violated his parole by crossing a state line in order to gamble. He feels terrible about Susannah, but he isn’t going back to prison. He can’t go back to prison.
The story is told full of the flavor of the period, which unfortunately includes a number of homophobic and ugly sexist remarks by just about every one of the main characters here. They say some wines age more gracefully than others, and it’s true of fiction as well. If you can get past the parts here that didn’t, you might enjoy a truly unique detective story.
Rees spent the night with Susannah, and he’s in double trouble. He looks guilty to Casey and Krug; for one thing, he keeps lying, and why would an innocent man lie? But Rees has his own reasons. He’s an ex-con, and he’s violated his parole by crossing a state line in order to gamble. He feels terrible about Susannah, but he isn’t going back to prison. He can’t go back to prison.
The story is told full of the flavor of the period, which unfortunately includes a number of homophobic and ugly sexist remarks by just about every one of the main characters here. They say some wines age more gracefully than others, and it’s true of fiction as well. If you can get past the parts here that didn’t, you might enjoy a truly unique detective story.
April 21, 2015
Pair up former surfer and college grad, Casey Kellog, youngest detective on the force, with an old hand like Al Krug and you have a mix of fresh eyes remembering his academy teachings and looking for patterns in criminal behavior with a veteran, street smart relying on
years of experience.
And this case has more twists than woman’s braids – an ex-con just released after a year of good behavior convicted of the manslaughter of his wife’s hit and run killer, full of guilt, and super intimidated by Krug; a flashy young woman he meets by chance witnessing an earliest morning murder, who is the link in a masterful counterfeiting scheme that has even the treasury guys out foxed.
Rich in character and suspense, with a complicated but easy to follow plot,, Carolyn Weston returns, thanks to Brash Books, with a masterful police procedural that will keep you up till the cows come home – or calling in ‘sick’ to work.
You deserve a treat today – and this is it – you know you deserve it!
years of experience.
And this case has more twists than woman’s braids – an ex-con just released after a year of good behavior convicted of the manslaughter of his wife’s hit and run killer, full of guilt, and super intimidated by Krug; a flashy young woman he meets by chance witnessing an earliest morning murder, who is the link in a masterful counterfeiting scheme that has even the treasury guys out foxed.
Rich in character and suspense, with a complicated but easy to follow plot,, Carolyn Weston returns, thanks to Brash Books, with a masterful police procedural that will keep you up till the cows come home – or calling in ‘sick’ to work.
You deserve a treat today – and this is it – you know you deserve it!
June 19, 2015
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#2 in the Al Krug and Casey Kellogg series.
This reminds me of old-style gangster movies, with the obvious bad guys, the sexy girl with a secret, and the cigar-chewing, fast-talking cop. That's not really what this is about, but that's the impression given. I'd call it a gritty and streetwise mystery. Rees is an ex-con who gets caught up in a mystery when he witnesses a murder. One of the cops fixates on him as the culprit and spends a lot of time following up on Rees's alibis and activities. The other, younger cop keeps more of an open mind. I liked the opposites-attract relationship between the cop partners, although Krug was frustrating in his complacency. Rees was a good main character, and we get to know him well, but he was also annoying with his constant negativity. The story was a bit convoluted, but all the answers were revealed at the end. Fairly enjoyable. I may read more from this series at some point.
#2 in the Al Krug and Casey Kellogg series.
This reminds me of old-style gangster movies, with the obvious bad guys, the sexy girl with a secret, and the cigar-chewing, fast-talking cop. That's not really what this is about, but that's the impression given. I'd call it a gritty and streetwise mystery. Rees is an ex-con who gets caught up in a mystery when he witnesses a murder. One of the cops fixates on him as the culprit and spends a lot of time following up on Rees's alibis and activities. The other, younger cop keeps more of an open mind. I liked the opposites-attract relationship between the cop partners, although Krug was frustrating in his complacency. Rees was a good main character, and we get to know him well, but he was also annoying with his constant negativity. The story was a bit convoluted, but all the answers were revealed at the end. Fairly enjoyable. I may read more from this series at some point.
June 20, 2015
Casey Kelly, a college-grad detective is partnered with Al Krug, an experienced detective of the old school in Santa Monica, California. Paul Rees is doing laundry at an odd time, when he witnesses a black Mercedes hit a racing motorcyclist and then backs up over the motorcyclist to run over him again. Why is the motorcyclist killed? Police arrive on the scene, detectives Klug and Kelly are interviewing the witnesses of the accident. Paul Rees doesn't believe this to be a simple hit and run accident. The other witness Susannah Roche makes contradictory remarks about the car. Who killed the motorcyclist?
The novel is a police procedural. The author's writing is smooth. She made me feel as if I were in Southern California. The plot is full of twists and turns. It is a novel with a flash-back to the 1970's. It is a great read!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The novel is a police procedural. The author's writing is smooth. She made me feel as if I were in Southern California. The plot is full of twists and turns. It is a novel with a flash-back to the 1970's. It is a great read!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
April 25, 2015
Flower power and bogus money
It is the mid 1970s. The setting is Santa Monica, California. Rees is an ex-con with REALLY bad luck - and longtime experienced police detective Al Krug is ready to believe all kinds of bad things about him. Krug's partner, Casey Kellog, is young and a bit more open minded but the race is on to find out who is murdering people left and right, and who is printing bogus money.
This book was originally copyrighted in 1975 and, even though 40 years old, holds its age well. There are a few anachronisms but police work is police work, even from that long ago.
The characters were well described. The timeframe - in the wild 70s - was shown in all its shabby glory.
This was a twisty, turny police procedural and it was fun finding the clues...as the characters found them.
NOTE: I received this book from Brash Books through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
It is the mid 1970s. The setting is Santa Monica, California. Rees is an ex-con with REALLY bad luck - and longtime experienced police detective Al Krug is ready to believe all kinds of bad things about him. Krug's partner, Casey Kellog, is young and a bit more open minded but the race is on to find out who is murdering people left and right, and who is printing bogus money.
This book was originally copyrighted in 1975 and, even though 40 years old, holds its age well. There are a few anachronisms but police work is police work, even from that long ago.
The characters were well described. The timeframe - in the wild 70s - was shown in all its shabby glory.
This was a twisty, turny police procedural and it was fun finding the clues...as the characters found them.
NOTE: I received this book from Brash Books through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
June 15, 2015
I was not as enthralled by this book nearly as much as I wanted to be. It could be I just finished reading a 5-star book before starting this one. Or maybe because it was so dated. "Groovy" was used a lot. The cops were called "pigs". The young ladies were called "chicks".
After a couple of chapters, I decided that maybe I needed to take a closer look at the details about this book. Yes, it was dated ... first published in 1975. That kind of explains the language.
I received this one through NetGalley. I 'assumed' it was a new release. That will teach me!
Basically the story is one of an ex-con getting involved in a homicide as a witness. The deceased was found to be covered in saran wrap which was covering lots and lots of money .. all fake. The cops come across as good cop / bad cop. One snarls, one smiles.
All in all, it's not a bad book .. it just wasn't that interesting to me. Would be a fine book for someone who likes to read the older genre.
I gave it 2 stars.
October 13, 2015
Paul Joseph Rees has seen a hit and run with a victim's death... but the police doesn't believe him as a testimony. He has too many secrets on his own to be relaxed talking to the police... and this is how he started a race to find the truth before someone incriminates him of the murder.
Would he trust the police and tell them all the truth or will he become the murder suspect?
This is a quite complex case, with a lot of half truths and misunderstandings, and a few deaths, of course!
To say the truth, the two officers of this case didn't won my sympathy at all! They were stubborn and just focused on their own thoughts instead of trying to investigate more on the case. I hope that real police officers try to investigate all the suspects instead of just focusing on their feelings.
This is the second novel featuring the Police Detective Casey Kellog, you can read it on its own and enjoy a quite dark case.
Ready to tell the truth?
Would he trust the police and tell them all the truth or will he become the murder suspect?
This is a quite complex case, with a lot of half truths and misunderstandings, and a few deaths, of course!
To say the truth, the two officers of this case didn't won my sympathy at all! They were stubborn and just focused on their own thoughts instead of trying to investigate more on the case. I hope that real police officers try to investigate all the suspects instead of just focusing on their feelings.
This is the second novel featuring the Police Detective Casey Kellog, you can read it on its own and enjoy a quite dark case.
Ready to tell the truth?
June 7, 2015
Given To Me For An Honest Review
Susannah Screaming: A Klug and Kellogg Thriller (The Klug and Kellogg Thriller Series) by Carolyn Weston is the basis for The Streets of San Francisco. Two dectives are teamed up to solve a hit and run case. The case has a lot of twists and turns so make sure you hold on tight to your seat because your going on one wild ride. This story is loaded with suspense, action and is a complicated but easy to follow plot. You'll be surprised with the discovery at the morgue. Will the killer be found? Why did the victim have what he did in the morgue? This book is shock after shock after shock ..... did I say it is Fantastic. I gave this book 5 stars but it deserves more. I highly recommend it to everyone especially to those who enjoy reading mystery, suspense and action. I look for more from Carolyn Westen.
Susannah Screaming: A Klug and Kellogg Thriller (The Klug and Kellogg Thriller Series) by Carolyn Weston is the basis for The Streets of San Francisco. Two dectives are teamed up to solve a hit and run case. The case has a lot of twists and turns so make sure you hold on tight to your seat because your going on one wild ride. This story is loaded with suspense, action and is a complicated but easy to follow plot. You'll be surprised with the discovery at the morgue. Will the killer be found? Why did the victim have what he did in the morgue? This book is shock after shock after shock ..... did I say it is Fantastic. I gave this book 5 stars but it deserves more. I highly recommend it to everyone especially to those who enjoy reading mystery, suspense and action. I look for more from Carolyn Westen.
May 28, 2015
This is one of a series that inspired the mid 1970s TV show "Streets of San Francisco." If you missed the show, or haven't seen it is re-runs, it is completely of its time; the biases, trendy language and generational contretemps are fully exploited. The book has all the same flavor and flourish. The pairing of a seasoned cop with a college-educated younger one provides as much tension for the story as the actual crime. This was always meant to be a fast, light story with colorful characters and a mystery that is almost solved until the next curveball comes at the reader. If you like your mysteries steeped in a different time period, in this case 1970s Los Angeles - fully realized, this one has it all. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
December 29, 2015
This book is so engrossing I had to read it in a single setting. Fortunately it is written so smoothly that reading was a continuing pleasure. The characters are all real people, with strong points and weaknesses. The fast-driving young detective and the crusty old partner are played against each other well, while the protagonist demonstrates a slow return to his basic humanity as an ex-con. Weston does an outstanding job of bringing the reader through action and violence while keeping the mystery unsolved. This book is an easy read, has a developing mystery and a satisfying ending. The level of description is just enough to create mental images without interfering with the story. It is engrossing, entertaining and satisfying.
December 8, 2016
Written in the style of older times. A complex plot but easily followed with good old detective work, the pairing of a grumpy gruff veteran detective and his young know it all partner. Just picture searching for a pay phone, anyone remember those days? This all takes place in the general vicinity of Hollywood, or just LA, with would be actors and wannabe big shots. Murder, mayhem, parties and a parolee. The parolee trying to walk the fine line not violating his conditions and yet being caught up in the misdeeds of the criminal plots. Action is constant in this can’t put it down tale of police vs. miscreants, written in the style of some of the old television detective shows. Brings back memories of a different era.
June 24, 2015
Non stop action starting with a hit and run and a compromised bystander whose life gradually becomes worse. Illustrates some prejudice in the police system but also a dogged determination to catch the perpetrators. Everything works out in the end.
July 1, 2015
Another fast moving tale which opens with newly released Paul Rees witnessing a hit and run murder. With Krug and Kellog on the case Krug has Rees in the frame for most of the book but we know he's being set up but we don't know who by. Well written and very entertaining. A good read.
December 19, 2013
Another nostalgic trip to the sleek, atmospheric and stylish literary roots of The Streets of San Francisco
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