Think Fast, Mr. Peters

Toby Peters #13

by Stuart M. Kaminsky

When he becomes the prime suspect in the shooting death of a Peter Lorre imitator, 1940s P.I. Toby Peters is determined to find the true killer, before the real Peter Lorre becomes a victim. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Detective, Historical Mystery

211 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Stuart M. Kaminsky wrote 50 published novels, 5 biographies, 4 textbooks and 35 short stories. He also has screenwriting credits on four produced films including ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, ENEMY TERRITORY, A WOMAN IN THE WIND and HIDDEN FEARS. He was a past president of the Mystery Writers of America and was nominated for six prestigious Edgar Allen Poe Awards including one for his short story “Snow” in 1999. He won an Edgar for his novel A COLD RED SUNRISE, which was also awarded the Prix De Roman D’Aventure of France. He was nominated for both a Shamus Award and a McCavity Readers Choice Award.

Kaminsky wrote several popular series including those featuring Lew Fonesca, Abraham Lieberman, Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, and Toby Peters. He also wrote two original "Rockford Files " novels. He was the 50th annual recipient of the Grandmaster 2006 for Lifetime Achievement from the Mystery Writers of America.

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievement award) in 2007.

His nonfiction books including BASIC FILMMAKING, WRITING FOR TELEVISION, AMERICAN FILM GENRES, and biographies of GARY COOPER, CLINT EASTWOOD, JOHN HUSTON and DON SIEGEL. BEHIND THE MYSTERY was published by Hot House Press in 2005 and nominated by Mystery Writers of America for Best Critical/Biographical book in 2006.

Kaminsky held a B.S. in Journalism and an M.A. in English from The University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in Speech from Northwestern University where he taught for 16 years before becoming a Professor at Florida State. where he headed the Graduate Conservatory in Film and Television Production. He left Florida State in 1994 to pursue full-time writing.

Kaminsky and his wife, Enid Perll, moved to St. Louis, Missouri in March 2009 to await a liver transplant to treat the hepatitis he contracted as an army medic in the late 1950s in France. He suffered a stroke two days after their arrival in St. Louis, which made him ineligible for a transplant. He died on October 9, 2009.

Reviews

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A number of other reviews also recognized this Toby Peters entry as more hilarious than the other hilarious books in the series. I know a lot of writers would write massive content. Heck I've been reading the "William Johnstone" series that consists of many hundreds of books. The array of Kaminsky series and quality is astounding. I noted in the Peters series, he drinks Pepsi. In his Lieberman series, the main character drinks Coca-Cola. How he kept track of all this and, again, kept the quality of the stories in very different locations with different characters is really something.

In this Peter Lorre and Peters story a pretty simple murder turns into a search through a crowd of Lorre imitators and the usual very fun trip through the labyrinth of Peters's pals and family. Kaminsky structures a tight story, steeped in funny scenes and satisfying conclusion. A book I can write that is a joy to read.

Further stars for accomplishing the story in 198 pages in my hard cover copy.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of ten points.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything that makes me laugh this hard has to get five stars. Toby Peters is like Sam Spade, as soon as you tell him not to do something he does it. It also was a clever way for the author to extend the ending but in this case it works! I love the characters(and Im not just refering to them as people in the book they are true "characters") in the book and they are full of quirks. Sheldon Minck was the only one I found to be annoying. Mrs. Plaut, Jeremy and especially Gunther I cant wait to read more of! On to the next Peters book.

[Christa Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toby Peters is a private detective hired to find Mrs. Sheldon Minck, a dentist's wife who has run off with Peter Lorre. As it turns out, she is really with a Lorre impressionists and the love affair has already gone sour when the impressionist is shot and killed while working on a movie. When a couple of other Lorre impressionists are killed or threatened, the man himself hires Peters to solve the case and he is concerned with his own safety. This is set in Hollywood during the war and supporting characters are entertaining. I listened to the audio version and enjoyed it very much.

[Chuck Neumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Think fast, Mr. Peters" is one in a series of Toby Peters mystery novels. It is about a 50 year old private detective who works in the early 1940's L.A. who often works for well known actors of the era. Peters has a shabby office, lives in a boarding house, has a not always friendly brother who is a captain in the L.A. police force, and usually has just enough money to get by. In this story, his office mate - a dentist - asks him to find his wife. She ran off with actor Peter Lorre, according to her goodbye note. Toby soon discovers Lorre had nothing to do with the runaway wife, it was a Lorre imitator. When Toby tracks him down, the imitator is soon killed. While Peters works to find the killer, the real Peter Lorre hires him to find out who is threatening him. The case takes many twists that seem to make no sense, but the final reveal makes everything clear. The series has many elements in nearly all the novels, including the unusual cast of friends that help Peters that include a 300 pound poet/wrestler and a midget. Another common thread is Peters having sex with a suspect, even though battered faced Peters hardly seems a ladies man. (The novels handle these sex scenes in a way not to shock the reader) Another mark of these novels is that the plot, which seems impossible, actually makes sense at the end. The novels all have great period detail, from the War news, show business workings to the singers on the radio and sports events of the time. This novel has fewer famous actors mentioned than usual, only Lorre is seen though Sidney Greenstreet talks to Toby on the phone. This book is different in that it begins towards the end of the case and most of the story is a flashback. This novel isn't the best of the series, but it is a good one and well worth reading for all mystery or movie fans.

[Mary C. Ward]

Classic Hollywood Hijinks

A lovely humorous noir detective story that draws on 1942 Hollywood stars and circumstances. Sadly, there are MANY distracting errors that disrupt the flow. Peter Lorre is the principal Hollywood star in this story but in one instance, someone named Loire appears. The reader must pause, however momentarily, to consider whether this is someone utterly new or just one more copy editing failure. Similarly, is it really "mange" or was "manage" intended, "cub" or "curb"? Missing or gratuitous punctuation further confuses the author's intent. Blessedly, the totally blank pages do not appear until the preview of the next Toby Peters mystery that follows the conclusion of this story. Nevertheless, the clever Hollywood references along with details of 1942 Home Front life give this detective story a unique dimension, especially for fans of Hollywood's Golden Age.

[Araych · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toby Peters #13. It's 1942 in Hollywood and Toby is hired by his friend and office-mate dentist Shelly Minck to find Shelly's wife who has run away with Peter Lorre. Really? Well, it turns out there are lots of guys who sort-of look like Peter Lorre. And pretty soon one of them is shot dead but Toby's on the case. Another light and very enjoyable entry in the series. I liked it a lot, 4 stars.

[Willie Kirschner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another quick read and adventure for Toby Peters, the Hollywood detective whose brother is a police lieutenant and who is always getting beaten up, before he finally solves this case for Peter Lorre. Entertaining, with his friends Gunther and Jeremy helping out.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toby Peters is asked to find the wife of his suite-mate dentist, Shelly Finke, who has left a note saying that she has left him for Peter Lorre. Someone is killing Lorre impersonators. Fun read for an airplane or a beach.

[grundoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is perhaps the most ridiculous plot yet (in a series that, mind you, is entirely premised on a C-list Hollywood P.I. having one-off pairings with golden era celebrities in "sure, why not" plots) probably only adds to the pure pleasure of a visit with Toby Peters. In many ways, this is one against which all others should be compared – there's a marked lack of dwelling on the idiosyncrasies of his associates, so it's not exactly representative, but it probably only helps achieve the absolutely perfect pacing and fun.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't remember the other books in this series being quite so humorous, but this one struck me as being particularly goofy. Short WWII-era mystery.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun Toby Peters mystery. I didn’t expect the solution and I liked it. I liked seeing more of Jeremy Baker. The Shelly angle was good too. Great mystery.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

story line a 3 but backdrop and all the stuff we learn about the 40's is great, really liked the enema display tag line and the serviceman looking on!!!!! lol

[Carol Fleming · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun easy read if you like Hollywood trivia and satire mystery with tne 1940s movie stars.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable funny detective story. Worth it for the chase scene through the 1940 Warner Brothers lot.

[Raquel Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mais um volume desta saga. Desta feita, o actor que se vê em trabalhos é Peter Lorre.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reviews are right, this is probably the funniest one so far.

[Glenn Hopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining comic-mystery set in 1942 L.A. in which narrator-hero Toby Peters needs the help of the real Peter Lorre to crack the case of why Peter Lorre imitators are being menaced. I was surprised that Lorre was not more introspective, as the historical figures in the other Toby Peters books sometimes are, but it is definitely the work of a real pro with a climax at a theater that is top notch.

[F.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A killer who targets Peter Lorre imitators is a great idea for a thriller!

[James Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone is killing Peter Lorre impersonators, working up to the real Peter Lorre. Toby has to find the killer, while keeping Lorre alive.

Once again, a fun, exciting chase through 1940s Los Angeles. Indie filmmakers, impersonators, and Mrs. Plaut's rubber drive, for the War Effort.

Kaminsky is always enjoyable.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toby Peters w/ Peter Lorre

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Good; Continuing character: Toby Peters; someone is killing Peter Lorre imitators and the real one and some of Peters' friends help him track down the killer

[Hadrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little mystery story with a neat trick - add period figures with a surprising degree of detail and realism. I'll look this guy up later.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ride! Kaminsky nails Lorre in this one and the Greenstreet cameo was priceless!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in June 1942 Hollywood written in film noir style. Peter Lorre look a likes are being hunted down all over the city. Toby is framed for the murder.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm amazed at how much 1940's Hollywood trivia the author knows. It makes the books a fun read.