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The Big Tumble
On the first working day of 1950, private investigator and former lawyer Lawrence Mallory is sipping his afternoon martini and hoping the new decade will be an improvement over the one just ended. But if his first case of the fifties is any indication, it’s going to be a long ten years.
An overweight low-life who’d once stiffed him on legal fees interrupts Mallory’s gin and vermouth and offers him money to hold a large envelope for a day or two. He won’t say what’s in it or why he wants it held—only that it must be sealed when he gets it back or there will be no payment. Mallory wisely refuses and sends him on his way, but that night a punk kid breaks into his house looking for the same envelope.
Mallory gets the kid to talk, and it turns out he’s working for a loan company operator named Brent Granger who does loan-sharking on the side. The next day, Mallory goes to see Granger who tells him he is being blackmailed over the contents of the envelope. He also won’t say what it is, so Mallory refuses his request to hire him.
That night, a well-aimed punch to the jaw knocks Mallory out cold. When he wakes up, he finds himself back in Granger’s office with double vision and two dead men on the floor, both of whom are Granger. Mallory’s .38 is there too, and it’s the murder weapon.
As Mallory pursues the investigation, he is aided by his wife, Kate, who’d been his secretary when he was a lawyer. There’s plenty of kidding and wisecracking back and forth between them, but she’s a smart and competent partner (albeit one with a temper). Their teenage daughter, Susanna, whose career goal is to be the first female homicide detective on the Central City Police Force, is not about to be left out either.
This family of detectives must solve Granger’s murder before an overzealous police lieutenant has Mallory behind bars and on trial for his life. As for the mysterious envelope, when it finally materializes, what’s inside turns out to be more sinister and explosive than anything anyone might have imagined.
If you’re looking for a little family comedy/drama mixed in with your murder and mayhem and a writing style somewhat reminiscent of Nelson DeMille, this may be your cup of tea. If it is, you’ll also want to follow the adventures of the Mallory family in Appointment with Murder, the first book in the series, which is also available on Amazon Kindle.
An overweight low-life who’d once stiffed him on legal fees interrupts Mallory’s gin and vermouth and offers him money to hold a large envelope for a day or two. He won’t say what’s in it or why he wants it held—only that it must be sealed when he gets it back or there will be no payment. Mallory wisely refuses and sends him on his way, but that night a punk kid breaks into his house looking for the same envelope.
Mallory gets the kid to talk, and it turns out he’s working for a loan company operator named Brent Granger who does loan-sharking on the side. The next day, Mallory goes to see Granger who tells him he is being blackmailed over the contents of the envelope. He also won’t say what it is, so Mallory refuses his request to hire him.
That night, a well-aimed punch to the jaw knocks Mallory out cold. When he wakes up, he finds himself back in Granger’s office with double vision and two dead men on the floor, both of whom are Granger. Mallory’s .38 is there too, and it’s the murder weapon.
As Mallory pursues the investigation, he is aided by his wife, Kate, who’d been his secretary when he was a lawyer. There’s plenty of kidding and wisecracking back and forth between them, but she’s a smart and competent partner (albeit one with a temper). Their teenage daughter, Susanna, whose career goal is to be the first female homicide detective on the Central City Police Force, is not about to be left out either.
This family of detectives must solve Granger’s murder before an overzealous police lieutenant has Mallory behind bars and on trial for his life. As for the mysterious envelope, when it finally materializes, what’s inside turns out to be more sinister and explosive than anything anyone might have imagined.
If you’re looking for a little family comedy/drama mixed in with your murder and mayhem and a writing style somewhat reminiscent of Nelson DeMille, this may be your cup of tea. If it is, you’ll also want to follow the adventures of the Mallory family in Appointment with Murder, the first book in the series, which is also available on Amazon Kindle.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2019
106 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 16, 2020
Great mystery with a large side of humor
Richard Hart does not disapoint! His wit shined brightly as yet another cluster of criminals met their match in Lawrence Mallory, once attorney now Private Investigator. This story has it all: robbery, murder, kidnapping, torture, adultery, homosexuality, and police brutality! One almost needs a scorecard to keep track of who did what to whom!
(As an aside, Richard Hart includes a statement that he does his own editing. I find his work is nearly flawless and his style is a delight!))
Richard Hart does not disapoint! His wit shined brightly as yet another cluster of criminals met their match in Lawrence Mallory, once attorney now Private Investigator. This story has it all: robbery, murder, kidnapping, torture, adultery, homosexuality, and police brutality! One almost needs a scorecard to keep track of who did what to whom!
(As an aside, Richard Hart includes a statement that he does his own editing. I find his work is nearly flawless and his style is a delight!))
August 3, 2025
This was a mystery with a lot of twists and turns with the main character being a laid back private detective who was one time an attorney. It was not difficult to follow even though the story to determine who did the actual killing took a few detours and right when you think you have it figured out, you discover you don't.
The only downside is there was quite a few typos throughout and they make one stop and reread the sentence.
The only downside is there was quite a few typos throughout and they make one stop and reread the sentence.
February 9, 2021
I like the style.
This book is an interesting mix of private eye on post World War setting 1949-50. He describes phones of that era and cars and they just got a television to watch Milton Berle. The protagonist is a lawyer turned private eye with his wife as girl Friday and her daughter all members in the family business.
This book is an interesting mix of private eye on post World War setting 1949-50. He describes phones of that era and cars and they just got a television to watch Milton Berle. The protagonist is a lawyer turned private eye with his wife as girl Friday and her daughter all members in the family business.
June 20, 2020
A Cast of thousands would love to see the Loan Shark Dead
An old fashioned gum-shoe mystery with getting beat up and threatened are part of day to day living. One differences a smart-alex teen who is also brave and quite a detective herself makes the mystery more interesting.
An old fashioned gum-shoe mystery with getting beat up and threatened are part of day to day living. One differences a smart-alex teen who is also brave and quite a detective herself makes the mystery more interesting.
April 11, 2020
The Big Tumble
Pretty good read. Liked the mystery, the humor and the family. It surprised me and Larry was a good guy. Liked it a lot.
Pretty good read. Liked the mystery, the humor and the family. It surprised me and Larry was a good guy. Liked it a lot.
May 16, 2025
Good plot twists
A little bit of the thin man, a little Ozzie and harriet. Some twists were predictable . but a nice read. Very enjoyable.
A little bit of the thin man, a little Ozzie and harriet. Some twists were predictable . but a nice read. Very enjoyable.
June 3, 2025
Savvy gave me this book after she finished it. One of her dad's friends wrote it.
Nice mystery.
Nice mystery.
November 21, 2025
Well done
It had a lot of great and intricate twists and turns and surprises right up to the very well done ending.
It had a lot of great and intricate twists and turns and surprises right up to the very well done ending.
January 16, 2020
A better detective dime novel
Bits of dialogue and plot borrowed from other detectives, but generally entertaining. Certainly not a 'listener's or a 'couldn't out it down ', but a reasonable diversion from the current troubled world
Bits of dialogue and plot borrowed from other detectives, but generally entertaining. Certainly not a 'listener's or a 'couldn't out it down ', but a reasonable diversion from the current troubled world
February 13, 2025
Long, winding convincing trail
Very enjoyable. Seems to meander and gallop at once. Good strong likeable characters. And some great nasty ones.
Some mysteries like to wrap up everything satisfactorily at about 88% and then remind you there's a whole bunch of loose ends needing tying. Very few of those mysteries can make the last 12% fly by to an even better ending. The Big Tumble does just that.
Very enjoyable. Seems to meander and gallop at once. Good strong likeable characters. And some great nasty ones.
Some mysteries like to wrap up everything satisfactorily at about 88% and then remind you there's a whole bunch of loose ends needing tying. Very few of those mysteries can make the last 12% fly by to an even better ending. The Big Tumble does just that.
September 14, 2019
Good yarn well told
Classic murder mystery with twists and turns and emerging character development. Surprise ending with satisfying outcome. Any fan of this genre will enjoy.
Classic murder mystery with twists and turns and emerging character development. Surprise ending with satisfying outcome. Any fan of this genre will enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews