Save the Last Dance for Me

Sam McCain #4

by Ed Gorman

Preparations for a visit from presidential candidate Richard Nixon become chaotic when Reverend John Muldaur, who has been stirring up the town with anti-Semitic and anti-Catholic circulars, is murdered, forcing Judge Esme Whitney to enlist the help of her friend Sam McCain to catch a killer. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Crime

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light smight..... Ed definately does social action and brings bigotry out into the light of day!!!!! This time he takes on antiCatholic, anti-semitism, anti-black and any church that lets people hide behind bigotry in the name of religion and snakes..

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not read this book if you don't like snakes.

They are used very effectively in providing evidence of the insanity of the religious organization which is the focus of this mystery. They are also used to intimidate both Sam and others into providing information.

The leader of this group is murdered, not by the snakes but by other means. Soon after the more traditional reverend in town is also murdered. Turns out that they have the same weakness, and everyone knows it.

Sam is also providing advice to Kylie when she discovers her husband has not been faithful to their marriage. He pretty much gives up trying to help Jamie with her inadequacies.

Meanwhile Judge Whitney is busy getting ready for a visit by Vice President Richard Nixon. She wants these murders cleared up before he arrives.

This is one busy Black River Falls.

I was surprised by Sam's moves in this, and a bit disappointed. Our hero has feet of clay.

I borrowed a copy from the public library.

[Dean McIntyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME by Ed Gorman -- Despite my middlin three stars, I enjoyed this novel. Lots of interesting characters and action, humor, mystery. Rural small town lawyer Sam McCain is up against a fundamentalist snake-handling pastor and congregation that hates Jews, Catholics, and African-Americans (not the preferred term in this novel!), and local hay-seeds. The snake-handling pastor is murdered during a worship service, witnessed by Sam, shortly followed by the murder of the Protestant pastor, which sends him off on his mission to solve the murders. There is deception, mystery, lots of humor, some sex, and a gang-buster first chapter that introduces most of the characters and the rattle snakes in a worship service. The first chapter is worth the read all by itself.

[Tekken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nagu arvata võis, on see lugu sama sarja eelmistest osadest veidi erinev. Sam McCain/2.0 tegutseb juba eradetektiivi rollis, tal on isiklik sekretär, kuid ta töötab samal ajal endiselt kohtunik Whitney alluvuses. Täiesti möödaminnes selgub ka see, kui palju Samil siis neid kasse on.

Kui eelmises järjes oodati Hruštšovi visiiti, siis seekord tuleb Black River Fallsi kolkasse külla Richard Nixon isiklikult. See episood, kui ta võrkpalli mängib, on üks raamatu paremaid kohti. Aga kõigepealt pöördub McCaini poole karismaatiline reverend John Muldaur, kelle interaktiivsetes jutlustes on oluline koht lõgismadudel.

Selles järjes tegeleb McCain lisaks Muldauri mõrvaloo uurimisele oma uue silmarõõmu Kylie Burke’i ja tema pereprobleemide lahendamisega. Vahepeal keskendub autor nii põhjalikult McCaini ja Kylie’ suhetele, et kuritegu lahendatakse nagu möödaminnes.

Vahepealsetest uuendustest hoolimata jääb McCain suht üheülbaliseks tegelaseks, kes oma totaalse positiivsusega lugejat eriti ei üllata. Selleks ajaks võiks tal juba mingi pahe tekkida, näiteks kerge kanepisõltuvus. Sam McCain 3.0 võiks olla kapi-pothead.

[B.D. Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This private investigator story is number four in the Sam McCain series, set in the small fictional Iowa town of Black River Falls. It takes place in 1960. The book is crude in places, but also humorous. It pokes fun at several religions and especially snake handling Christians.

The book is loaded with twisted, distorted, and eccentric characters. The mystery takes several turns and has an exciting ending. Gorman’s writing is crisp and sharp, as always.

The book is an over the top, raucous, somewhat raunchy, but fun book. For those that like clean fiction, this isn’t for you.

[Araych · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam McCain #4. It's 1960 and Richard Nixon is running for president against John Kennedy. His next stop is Black River Falls, Iowa but before he arrives there's a little trouble. The snake-handling anti-Catholic anti-Semitic religious kooks are out in force. And what looks like a heart attack is actually murder. Very cute entry in the series with lots of 60's nostalgia on display. I liked it -- 3 stars.

[Tom Godfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, the actual mysteries in these books aren't the main focus. They're really just frameworks that allow Sam McCain, the detective/some-time lawyer, to interact with his fellow townspersons, and therein lies the charm. Everyone acts with both selfishness and selflessness, dislike and desire. I especially like the women in his books, all of them sharp, insightful, rueful, and deserving of more than what they get.

[John R. Goyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent mystery - there's simply too many excellent ones out there to say much more... A rather standard set of characters and plot, with the expected interactions and nothing all that original or intriguing. I may have one more book of his - I may read it - but I won't be looking for anymore in the series.

[Michael Schramme · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very special 'private eye' series built around a lawyer and special court investigator, Sam McCain, in a small town in the midwest (Iowa) in the fifties and sixties. I absolutely love this series for several reasons:

1. the wonderful immersion into a different time, spanning a decade from the late fifties to the late sixties. The descriptions are detailed, evocative, engaging and realistic. They are exceptionally well done.
2. The protagonist is a likeable average joe, who is easy to identify with and tells the stories in the first person. His back story is as engaging and interesting as the murder mysteries he gets involved in, and has become the main reason why I have become hooked on this series.
3. There are plenty of connections to the pop culture of the fifties and sixties, which is a bonus for any lover of music, books, cinema and culture of the period.
4. The mysteries are well crafted and keep you guessing until the end.
5. Every single one of the entries in these series is excellent without exception and well worth the read.

Give this a try, you won't regret it. I read all 9 books in 2 months and can't wait for the 10th entry, 'Riders' on the Storm', that will appear in October 2014! I hope Mr. Gorman gets the opportunity to write several more before he retires.

[Missmath144 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Sam McCain mystery, a trip back to the 50s. Sam is trying to figure out who killed the preacher. We're talking about a preacher who would make you grab a rattle snake out of a cage of rattle snakes; if you were pure, the snake wouldn't bite you. Another murder quickly follows this one, and this is a protestant preacher. Sam does freelance work for a judge, and she wants these mysteries solved before Richard Nixon comes to town. She doesn't want her town looking bad in his eyes. A little romance comes into the story, as well as instances of unrequited love.

[Amanda Meggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

1959 and Sam McCain is getting old! At 24 most of his peers are married and expecting child number two or three. A rattle-snake using fire and brimstone preacher is killed and Sam needs to solve the case. There is not as much historical description in this book, the friendship with Kylie and her marriage takes more of front seat position in the book. A good mystery, though I liked the way McCain's parents and sister were a big part of the other books.

[Ann Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Gorman is a master at the historical 1960 era and bringing life to characters from this decade. This book had plenty of characters and lots of heebee jeebee minded characters at that. I really rooted for Sam McCain in this one. It seemed he was never going to get to figure out who killed John Muldaur. It was fun reading him trying.

[Frank Taranto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Social commentary in a mystery. The book is set in 1960 in small town mid-America. First, a rabble raising snake handling preacher is poisoned. A repectable protestant preacher is next. Sam McCain has to figure out who killed the two of them before Richard Nixon comes to town to viit the Judge.
He also has to deal with an old friend who's husband is cheating on her.

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our intrepid attorney/private investigator has been asked to clean up a murder as fast as possible to have it out away before the presidential candidate Richard Nixion drop a in Black Creek. When the nasty secrets begin to fall out San begins to worry just exactly what has been going on for the past thirty years at the church.This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

[Metagion]

Another winner by Ed Gorman...This time it's the Early Sixties and things aren't what they seem in the small town of Black River Falls, IA...Sam McCain is one of my new fave PIs: smart, quick witted, and brilliant. LOVE IT, and you will too! Get a copy! :)

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delight from beginnig to end. Told with tongue firmly in cheek, this tale is a murder mystery-a love story-and a tale of snake handlers. Fast action coupled with hilarious asides sets this one apart. Highly recommended.

[GIZMO · Rating 3 out of 5]

this time the story is almost too bizarre...Nixon + snakehandlers is pretty far out there...I didn't miss pamela but I did miss Mary...and the new girl just didn't do it for me...interested to see where the series goes next

[Mrklingon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent story, so-so mystery.
I enjoy his era, his politics and the smart talk. The "mysteries" such as they are seem to pile on suspects till they pick one - maybe that's just me. I certainly enjoy the books and have no intention to stop reading them.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like these series of books. Their set in the late 50's and early 60's. Very nostalgic. Easy reads and very light.

[Kay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, nostalgic, wonder if there r more recent additions to this series.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun gum shoe mystery set in the fifties in Iowa, much fun for someone who grew up in the mid-west in the fifties.

[Marsha Shultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this one too love the music tie in