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Peter Cutler Sargent II #3
Death Likes It Hot
Early in his career, bestselling novelist Gore Vidal wrote three sparkling mysteries under the pseudonym Edgar Box starring amateur sleuth Peter Cutler Sargeant II. Death Likes It Hot, originally published in 1954, is the third of the trilogy. This edition features a new introduction by the author.
Young public relations whiz Peter Cutler Sargeant II is invited by socialite Rose Veering to spend a weekend at her palatial Easthampton home. Sargeant, eager to escape New York city's summer heat, readily accepts, although his aging hostess soon has him doing double duty arranging publicity for an upcoming society party.
Publicity soon arrives in a gruesome form when a guest is drowned. Was it an accident or murder? As the police investigate, Sargeant does his own snooping into the lives of his fellow suspects - and what he learns convinces him that something is dangerously amiss. This diabolically funny locked-room mystery is filled with Vidal's witty observations and dissections of the upper class.
Young public relations whiz Peter Cutler Sargeant II is invited by socialite Rose Veering to spend a weekend at her palatial Easthampton home. Sargeant, eager to escape New York city's summer heat, readily accepts, although his aging hostess soon has him doing double duty arranging publicity for an upcoming society party.
Publicity soon arrives in a gruesome form when a guest is drowned. Was it an accident or murder? As the police investigate, Sargeant does his own snooping into the lives of his fellow suspects - and what he learns convinces him that something is dangerously amiss. This diabolically funny locked-room mystery is filled with Vidal's witty observations and dissections of the upper class.
212 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1954
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 17, 2024
In concluding his trilogy of Edgar Box mysteries, it wasn't really necessary for Vidal to do anything but coast. By Book #3, he had achieved a sort of winning formula that seemed almost to be writing itself. He could have wrapped things up by sort of carbon-copying what he'd just done - and the result would likely have been just as satisfying.
But (thankfully) he decided to out-do himself. And out-do he did.
With his sharp eye now turned on the idle rich of the Hamptons, Vidal set out to disclose that he knew just as much about carefree / careless, moneyed folk as he knew about the worlds of entertainment and politics.
As he once again skewers with the goal of enlightenment, his comparative description remains shrewd and stylish:
Now that I've finished the series, I find I still prefer Book #1 - with its particular blend of bitchy humor and danger - but, hell, the adventurousness of the whole trilogy is marvelous. Now, onward to some of Vidal's more serious books.....
But (thankfully) he decided to out-do himself. And out-do he did.
With his sharp eye now turned on the idle rich of the Hamptons, Vidal set out to disclose that he knew just as much about carefree / careless, moneyed folk as he knew about the worlds of entertainment and politics.
As he once again skewers with the goal of enlightenment, his comparative description remains shrewd and stylish:
Her giggles now rose like pale echoes of Valkyrie shrieks over the dinner table...But here his protagonist - P.R. guy Peter Sargeant - is just as hard-working as the higher-octane novel itself:
Greaves sat in the center of the sofa, looking like an unsuccessful experiment in taxidermy.
She wandered sadly about the world, from center to center, set to set, in a manner reminiscent of a homing pigeon in a trailer.
I decided I was going out of my mind, ascribing significance to everything.This time out, the 'Everybody Is A Suspect' cast of characters is particularly tricky so I was grateful for the occasionally repeated personality traits that helped me keep track of who was who. But I was also aware of the author's main goal: to construct the mystery in a way that hadn't been done before. Not that I'm an old-hand at murder mysteries but there's much here that seemed unique. Throwing the reader off in a bewildering manner can be maddening for the reader (unlike with Books #1 & 2, there were times I had to restrain myself from flipping to the final pages, out of "WHO DID IT?!" fever) but it can also elevate the mystery story to an art form.
Now that I've finished the series, I find I still prefer Book #1 - with its particular blend of bitchy humor and danger - but, hell, the adventurousness of the whole trilogy is marvelous. Now, onward to some of Vidal's more serious books.....
November 7, 2025
Sargeant is a stand-in for the traditional private eye. He gets involved with murder, but he has no official role, other than being involved. Here, we get a kind of take on the Catskills murder mystery in the creepy hotel, but at a mansion in the East Hamptons. The dowager who owns the mansion is throwing a Labor Day Party and wants Sargeant to do the publicity. Who needs publicity for a party? So prior to that party, she invites Sargeant and a bevy of other odd personalities to her home for the weekend which is what you do in the Hamptons.
Before you know it though, the first death takes place and, at first, it appears to be an accident when a woman (said to be a strong swimmer) drowns in a riptide with a dozen witnesses present. But, the police are called in when it is discovered via autopsy that she swallowed four sleeping pills immediately before diving into the water. No one is quite sure that it is murder or an accident, although there had been screams in the night before that morning and bruises on the victim’s neck. The dowager is determined to go on with her party and Sargeant all too willing to indulge her as it means a fat paycheck.
But he is struck down as he returns to the mansion after an all-night rendezvous with an attractive young lady weekending in a nearby mansion. He never sees who struck him and wonders little about it until the next night when he discovers another body cut across the throat and the bodies begin to pile up.
Here, too, Sargeant, though not a real detective, is the one who solves the crime, though he comes close to being the last victim, before he realizes he knows who-done-it.
Before you know it though, the first death takes place and, at first, it appears to be an accident when a woman (said to be a strong swimmer) drowns in a riptide with a dozen witnesses present. But, the police are called in when it is discovered via autopsy that she swallowed four sleeping pills immediately before diving into the water. No one is quite sure that it is murder or an accident, although there had been screams in the night before that morning and bruises on the victim’s neck. The dowager is determined to go on with her party and Sargeant all too willing to indulge her as it means a fat paycheck.
But he is struck down as he returns to the mansion after an all-night rendezvous with an attractive young lady weekending in a nearby mansion. He never sees who struck him and wonders little about it until the next night when he discovers another body cut across the throat and the bodies begin to pile up.
Here, too, Sargeant, though not a real detective, is the one who solves the crime, though he comes close to being the last victim, before he realizes he knows who-done-it.
August 28, 2024
The last of Vidal's three Edgar Box mysteries. Interesting. None of these novels was great fiction or even a great mystery, but all were fun. Interesting to see Vidal's early playfulness and nonconformity, mixed with status.
September 20, 2012
I liked this series because the three books were all entertaining and a very nice trip back to the days of the 1950's. Vidal naturally captured the time beautifully because he was living it but it did bring back memories for me, especially little things like many people taking baths rather than showering. This story also had a nice summer time feel about it.
The murder mystery was pretty much a fair play type although it wasn't too hard to settle on a perpetrator, albeit for the wrong reasons. Vidal was an excellent story teller and once I picked up the book I did not put it down.
The murder mystery was pretty much a fair play type although it wasn't too hard to settle on a perpetrator, albeit for the wrong reasons. Vidal was an excellent story teller and once I picked up the book I did not put it down.
July 18, 2022
The third and sadly final mystery by Box (Gore Vidal) it seemed like the series could have continued if he wanted. This time he is called into be a publicist for a somewhat dimmed "rich" woman who wants to get better play in the social arena. However, the group of guests and hostess have their own myriad of issues. The deaths are a bit of a surprise overall and who was the killer. The size of the party isn't large- and toward the end you had a specific group of suspects that needed some careful looking into to split the hairs and discover the killer.
Many of the reoccurring characters from the previous mysteries are here, adding humor and continuity to the world. In this one there is again a love interest, and people at their oddest as usual. The most interesting thing about this series is the style of the writing, the incredible physical details of the people, their behaviors and homes. Sargent reacting to or accepting all this as just the way life was built. The fact that Sargent always had an active love/sexual interest in each story. You could tell the story was written in the past but with a few tweaks could easily be now.
Worth the read. The stories are more novella in length. There is a bit of a pattern to the stories in terms of events and then the final play where Sargent solves then case... but the telling is actually the most important bit. Very unique voice.
Many of the reoccurring characters from the previous mysteries are here, adding humor and continuity to the world. In this one there is again a love interest, and people at their oddest as usual. The most interesting thing about this series is the style of the writing, the incredible physical details of the people, their behaviors and homes. Sargent reacting to or accepting all this as just the way life was built. The fact that Sargent always had an active love/sexual interest in each story. You could tell the story was written in the past but with a few tweaks could easily be now.
Worth the read. The stories are more novella in length. There is a bit of a pattern to the stories in terms of events and then the final play where Sargent solves then case... but the telling is actually the most important bit. Very unique voice.
August 17, 2016
Death Like It Hot was a fun look at summer in the Hamptons in the 50s, in addition to being a decent mystery. I have to admit I liked Peter Sargeant, even if he was a bit chauvinistic. He was smart and funny and a good observer, an outsider who sees all the quirks and tensions. And the rich and comfortable have a lot of quirks. This is the only one of the three in the series I've read, but it stood on its own well.
The mystery was okay. I think the author played fairly, that we knew most of the clues along with Peter. It felt like a standard mystery, which is fine. I like guest house mysteries, whether they be in the Hamptons or the English countryside. I did guess the killer, but only because it was the best option, not because I had it all figured out.
The book was bit racier than I would have expected, more so than most mysteries I've read from the era. Even though women aren't exactly strong characters, they aren't weak either. They respect social niceties, but aren't necessarily tied to expectations.
Overall, it's an enjoyable story, funny, light and quick, a good summer read.
The mystery was okay. I think the author played fairly, that we knew most of the clues along with Peter. It felt like a standard mystery, which is fine. I like guest house mysteries, whether they be in the Hamptons or the English countryside. I did guess the killer, but only because it was the best option, not because I had it all figured out.
The book was bit racier than I would have expected, more so than most mysteries I've read from the era. Even though women aren't exactly strong characters, they aren't weak either. They respect social niceties, but aren't necessarily tied to expectations.
Overall, it's an enjoyable story, funny, light and quick, a good summer read.
January 19, 2016
Not much of a "punch". Vidal's Agatha Christie imitation seemed to run out mid-novel. Fortunately, his anti-women diatribes were more muted; "fags" remained his mortal enemy. The shrinks can take it from here.
September 22, 2020
Gore Vidal only gets 5 stars from me, on principle. I only recommend this Edgar Box series to hardcore Vidal fans who have already read his most important works. It was fun to see so much of the biting Vidal wit so early in his career
September 14, 2016
An old and dated book by Gore Vidal. Fun read, great characters, droll wit, and I was fooled. I'd recommend.
April 26, 2018
"Death Likes It Hot" is the third mystery penned by Gore Vidal under the pseudonym, Edgar Box. Written in 1953, during his "blackballing" by the New York Times, it was an economic necessity if he was to be published. Taking a page from Dame Agatha Christie, his three mysteries were twisting and turning, included multiple suspects and utilized a thinking man's detective. Of course, taking a page from the very successful Mickey Spillane novels of the time, a bit of gratuitous sex and gender discrimination were also added. As a classic literary murder mystery, it falls short of the mark, but Vidal's excellent wit and polished writing style do come through the sometimes weak plot. A very good read, both for its contribution to the mystery genre and for it's historical uniqueness from one of America's finest modern writers.
July 23, 2025
This third Edgar Box mystery is more enjoyable than the 2nd one, and almost on an equal par with the first one. It's about high society folks misbehaving at a Hamptons beach house and has the same snarky fluffy tone as the other two books. It gets a bit repetitive but it's fun enough to make me wish that Gore Vidal had continued the series. They're not as good as Julian or The City and the Pillar or 1876 but they're better than Myra Breckenridge.
September 1, 2025
Another mildly amusing mystery featuring Peter Sargeant, a carefree publicity man navigating the social and sexual realms of 1950's New York. This was a fun read, set in a summer home on Long Island. One issue I had was that there was too low a number of potential killers. Another is that when Peter figures the whole thing out he just about broadcasts the knowledge (but refuses to give a name), so he is sort of asking to be bumped off himself.
August 21, 2019
In this second Peter Cutler Sargent II mystery novel by Gore Vidal, writing under the name, Edgar Box, Sargent is hired as a public relations officer by an incumbent senator who has aspirations of pursuing a nomination for the presidency. When the senator is murdered during a house party made up of a number of suspicious characters, Sargent sets out to solve the mystery.
February 28, 2018
Fun in the Hamptons
Not great literature, but great fun. A romp in the Hampton's with pixelated dowagers, Bohemian artists, trust fund kids and plenty of booze and murder. Misdirects abound. Great first grad.
Not great literature, but great fun. A romp in the Hampton's with pixelated dowagers, Bohemian artists, trust fund kids and plenty of booze and murder. Misdirects abound. Great first grad.
January 26, 2018
Similar issues to other books. This story was darker. I appreciated there being enough clues in this story for the reader to guess at the murderer.
July 29, 2019
A good, well paced mystery with limited sidelines going on. The focus is on the investigation and not personal things in the characters lives which is the way I like to read a mystery novel.
July 12, 2020
Incredibly good. INCREDIBLY Vidal. An endless and supremely satisfying pleasure in prose.
November 3, 2022
All the characters are interesting.
November 12, 2025
The best of Gore Vidal's Edgar Box novels.
June 25, 2011
Third and last of the Peter Sargeant detective novels theat Gore Vidal secretly wrote under the pen name Edgar Box in the 1950s. The hero, a Harvard grad public relations man in New York City named Peter Sargeant, well networked with Social Register, political, and artistic connections, has a witty and caustic voice that is clearly Vidal enjoying himself at play. The first novel focused on the world of ballet, the second on DC politics, and this last takes a look at the country club set summering in the Hamptons. It started to drag a bit about 70% of the way through, but it picked up towards the end. I also like the way the opening establishes tone and the conclusion sustains it, though the series be over.
April 23, 2009
Synopsis from Fantastic Fiction
When Peter Cutler Sargeant II decided to mix business with a smart weekend in the Hamptons, he wasn't aware that the guest list was loaded. He found himself hobnobbing with a crown of sophisticated weirdos and the scene was anything but congenial. Besides the usual back biting, two timing and triple crossing that passed for fun in the Social Register sun, was someone had invented a trendy new game - and the trend was murder.
When Peter Cutler Sargeant II decided to mix business with a smart weekend in the Hamptons, he wasn't aware that the guest list was loaded. He found himself hobnobbing with a crown of sophisticated weirdos and the scene was anything but congenial. Besides the usual back biting, two timing and triple crossing that passed for fun in the Social Register sun, was someone had invented a trendy new game - and the trend was murder.
October 22, 2013
I read this since I enjoy other Gore Vidal I've read. This isn't really my favorite Genre, but I found it well written. It does drag at some points and I felt sort of claustrophobic reading it with all of them staying at the same house. I would read another book from this series although I wouldn't say I'm rushing out to do so.
June 25, 2012
The last mystery of the Gore Vidal as Edgar Box series. Clever, but the concept became a little worn (all three were similar).
January 19, 2013
This is the first of three books wherein Gore Vidal tries his hand at mysteries. Not bad. Not great but huge fun!
October 1, 2013
Неудивительно, что Гор Видал выпускал детективы под псевдонимом. Довольно расхлябанное чтиво, хотя и не без проблесков фирменного сарказма, написано впопыхах ради гонорара.
July 25, 2015
Only a smidgen of Mr. Vidal's scathing wit and nearly none of social insight can be found in this rather pedestrian whodunit. Good for painlessly killing a few hours, but not much more.
January 30, 2019
i liked it!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews