When the temperature Rises

by Deborah Palumbo

A1948 crime noir Introducing Detective Humphrey Hilton McAllister in this 1948 crime noir. It's the first in a series of, well, hopefully many. By the way, Humphrey's friends call him Humph. Well, actually the only person who calls him Humph is his ex wife Roberta. You don't want to know what Captain Milroy calls him. Milroy is always blowing his stack and busting Humphrey's chops about something even though old Humphrey hasn't touched a drop of the funny water in months and isn't doll dizzy anymore. That soft spot for blonde dames and that whiskey tumbler got Humphrey in trouble down at headquarters as well as home which is why Roberta took a powder, you know the slang meaning to leave. She divorced his behind is what she did. So, here he is Detective Humphrey being given one more opportunity to solve the murder du jour, the murder of Sam Santino in Apartment D. Humphrey's pretty confident he can solve the case within forty eight hours; that's how long Captain Milroy is giving him to solve the case, see Milroy's heart isn't as big as his potbelly. So, anyway, Humphrey has taken a few spins with corpses in his time, so no sweat, he boasts; he'll solve the murder of Sam Santino and apprehend the perpetrator in record time. Too bad though, his ex wife starts looking like a good suspect; too bad because he's still carrying a torch for her, especially since she dyed her hair blonde and looks like a real doll now. He's got one difficult decision to haul her in or let her escape? Or maybe she isn't the killer after all?

108 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2012

About the author

I co wrote a screenplay with actor/writer Jordan Rhodes (www.jordanrhodes.com) and one based on my mystery/thriller The Doctors, but my first love is writing novels. I'm the author of 9 books, including the paranormal vampire series THE UNDEPARTED. Book 3 in my vampires series will be released December 1; it's called The Banished One. The 4th book has already been conceived. I'm anxious to share them with you.
Aside from my paranormal series, I write historical romance laced with mystery, and mystery/crime; you know who dunnit with frustrated detectives who are hot on the trail of some killer.
When I'm not writing I enjoy relaxing at home; occasionally in front of the TV watching the old black and white shows or listening to 70's music. I'd prefer to play cards or Scrabble rather than go to a club. I'd rather take a long drive on a country road than jet off somewhere. I love to cook for friends. Sometimes I pull out the good china and other times I use my favorite Hallmark paper plates, but what really matters is the laughter and good conversation and especially a discussion about a good book!
Oh yeah, I love cheeseburgers!
Ciao!
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Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Humphrey McAllister is trying to put his life back together. He’s recently divorced from his wife of 18+ years. He is recently recuperating from a near fatal injury. In an attempt to change his ways that caused all these life altering events… he has sworn off women, stopped drinking anything but ginger ale and is attempting to solve the murder of Sam Santino in less than 48 hours. But life decides to send some bumps in his road, hot dames, mobsters, a surly boss and his ex-wife.

I have to say I am not particularly a fan of crime noir, but I TRULY LOVED THIS BOOK. From the first few sentences, I was hooked. The fantastic 1948 lingo, the brutal honesty and the personal insight Humphrey has into his own character absolutely made When The Temperature Rise extraordinary. It is a fast paced and intriguing mystery. There are many very steamy but not extremely explicited romantic encounters. When The Temperature Rise really hits the spot for awesome entertainment. Fabulous creativity Deborah Palumbo! 5 Stars and a new book to add to my favorite shelf.

[Jodie Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

When The Temperature Rises by Deborah Palumbo is an excellent read. It is a 1940’s crime noir that surrounds you with a murder, detectives, boxers, the mob and “dames” as Detective Humphreys refers to them. You got a Detective that has a broken life, is past his prime and still can’t keep away from those “dames”. Mystery, intrigue and deductive reasoning are paramount in this book and keep the book moving, making it an easy page turner. Deborah Palumbo has written an excellent crime mystery with an ending that even the reader doesn’t see coming. She’s woven such a web, with wonderfully creative characters that make you root for the main character and give you a vested interest in him and his mission.
Detective Humphrey is given the murder case of a lifetime but only 48 hours to solve the murder. After pursuing several suspects, track down a dead trail, his ex-wife comes into the picture and looks like a good suspect. She’s been hanging around with his previous suspects and the evidence starts to mount against her. He still holds a torch for her and wants to clear her name despite his misgivings. His Captain Milroy has seen Humphrey at his low and continues to treat him like he’s a washed up Detective. He insists Humphrey has the answer in the notebook he’s kept throughout the entire investigation. After reviewing the facts, he follows his hunch and the pieces fall into place. Those pieces lead to more than he expected and has his Captain in the end eating out of his hand. Will his ex-wife be found guilty? Will they get back together? Will his find the real suspect in his mess of notes? Read it to find out the stunning ending.