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Toby Peters #14
Buried Caesars
Hollywood private eye Toby Peters is asked to find an aide to General Douglas MacArthur, who has disappeared with information that could ruin the general's nascent political career
179 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
22 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Stuart M. Kaminsky
159 books215 followersStuart 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 11, 2025
"“Well,” I said, sitting next to Hammett. “What now?” “You’re the boss,” he said with a dry smile. “Okay,” I answered. “We get out of this room, find the telephone, call for help, grab the MacArthur papers and get the hell out of here. How do you like it?” “Fine,” said Hammett. “But how?” “You asked me what we’re going to do, not how. I don’t know how.”"
If any of you readers are fans of Kaminsky’s Toby Peters series. This is the best one that I have read.
General Douglas McArthur needs Toby Peters. "“When this war is over,” he said, “and the rising sun has set, this country will have to turn its attention to the next threat to the people of not only the United States, but the entire free world. Do you know what that threat is, Mr. Peters?” I considered several possibilities—dehydrated coffee, near beer, French and German opera—but I kept my mouth shut, confident that the General had the answer or he wouldn’t have asked the question. “Communism,” he said softly, almost resignedly; then his voice rose in determination. “If it weren’t for the Axis, we would be fighting Communists in the plains of Asia and the vineyards of Europe. I am not a fanatic, Mr. Peters. I am a pragmatist. This country will require a leader who is not afraid to face a further conflict, a leader whose hands are not bound”—and with this he held out his hands as if they were cuffed together—“by an executive branch more interested in its political perpetuation than in the need to make difficult and unpopular decisions to safeguard the shores of our country."
Does Peters need McArthur?
"I got up and handed the packet back to Castle. “Forget it,” I said. “I’d like to save the universe, or at least lower California. I really would, but it’ll have to be my way. I’ve had the feeling since I got into that spiffy Packard with you and Tonto that I was being treated like a little boy who’s supposed to be quiet in front of the adults and do what he’s told. Well, Major, it doesn’t work that way. Not for me. I’m not in your army and I couldn’t take the orders when I was a cop or when I was working security for Warner Brothers. I didn’t warm to the uniforms and I didn’t enjoy feeling like if I went down there’d be another like me to pick up the flag.”"
Having Dash Hammett in the plot makes for some interesting dialogue.
"“So what is it? You want me to play Nora to your Nick?” “I considered spending a few days with my wife and daughters,” he said, “but it’s been too long and … if I go back to the hotel I’m likely to start smoking and remembering what a drink or two can do to get you through elastic hours. I don’t write anymore, not real stuff. If I can keep busy for two or three days and get back to New York sober and in reasonable shape, I can talk them into letting me enlist. The plain truth is that the U.S. Army in the middle of its worst war may be the only thing that can save my life. There’s an irony there that doesn’t escape me.” I looked his way. He looked out the window. “Forget it. It was a bad idea,” he finally said. “A whim. I don’t usually go for them.” “Wait a minute,” I came back, assuming he was talking about giving me a hand and not about joining the army. “I could use some help on a case. Just follow-up and tracing.” “That’s how I made my living,” he said. “
The characters are all very idiosyncratic and Toby’s encounters with them are essential to advancing the plot. The war in the South Pacific is at its height and there are plenty of threads to pull together.
"“You know what the trouble with this world is?” “Nazis and Japs,” I said. “Loose ends,” Pintacki said, his hand clenching. “No discipline. Not like the movies. Life can learn so much from the movies if life would only watch. Sometimes I think God gave us the movies like a secret message, a message waiting for us to read it and understand.”"
If you are a fan of this series, you know the fraught relationship between Toby and his brother, Phil, who is a homicide detective in the Los Angeles Police Department.
"“Maybe I need a lawyer,” I said. “Maybe you need a new goddam brain,” Phil went on, his voice still even but showing a slight quiver that only a brother would recognize. “I’ve got four connected murders and you know what connects them? You. You connect them, Toby. You are—and not for the first time, as any assistant district attorney will see when he looks into your hippo-choking file—a murder suspect. We’re talking possible indictment. We’re talking loss of license.”…“Off the record, Phil,” I said. “It has to be off the record.” “No,” he said. “Then I can’t tell you.” I said, hands at my side ready to protect myself from what would probably be my brother’s next move. “Son of a bitch,” he hissed, fists clenched. “I can’t, Phil,” I said. “I’ve got an office smaller than a broom closet, a furnished room in a seedy boarding house, no wife, no family, no money, no property. All I’ve got is my word. If I give that up, I’ve got nothing left. I can’t tell you, Phil.”"
Aside from knowing that Toby will, somehow, make it through (and the Allies will win the war), Kaminsky keeps things moving at a terrific pace and the ending seems sufficiently plausible. A satisfying page-turner.
If any of you readers are fans of Kaminsky’s Toby Peters series. This is the best one that I have read.
General Douglas McArthur needs Toby Peters. "“When this war is over,” he said, “and the rising sun has set, this country will have to turn its attention to the next threat to the people of not only the United States, but the entire free world. Do you know what that threat is, Mr. Peters?” I considered several possibilities—dehydrated coffee, near beer, French and German opera—but I kept my mouth shut, confident that the General had the answer or he wouldn’t have asked the question. “Communism,” he said softly, almost resignedly; then his voice rose in determination. “If it weren’t for the Axis, we would be fighting Communists in the plains of Asia and the vineyards of Europe. I am not a fanatic, Mr. Peters. I am a pragmatist. This country will require a leader who is not afraid to face a further conflict, a leader whose hands are not bound”—and with this he held out his hands as if they were cuffed together—“by an executive branch more interested in its political perpetuation than in the need to make difficult and unpopular decisions to safeguard the shores of our country."
Does Peters need McArthur?
"I got up and handed the packet back to Castle. “Forget it,” I said. “I’d like to save the universe, or at least lower California. I really would, but it’ll have to be my way. I’ve had the feeling since I got into that spiffy Packard with you and Tonto that I was being treated like a little boy who’s supposed to be quiet in front of the adults and do what he’s told. Well, Major, it doesn’t work that way. Not for me. I’m not in your army and I couldn’t take the orders when I was a cop or when I was working security for Warner Brothers. I didn’t warm to the uniforms and I didn’t enjoy feeling like if I went down there’d be another like me to pick up the flag.”"
Having Dash Hammett in the plot makes for some interesting dialogue.
"“So what is it? You want me to play Nora to your Nick?” “I considered spending a few days with my wife and daughters,” he said, “but it’s been too long and … if I go back to the hotel I’m likely to start smoking and remembering what a drink or two can do to get you through elastic hours. I don’t write anymore, not real stuff. If I can keep busy for two or three days and get back to New York sober and in reasonable shape, I can talk them into letting me enlist. The plain truth is that the U.S. Army in the middle of its worst war may be the only thing that can save my life. There’s an irony there that doesn’t escape me.” I looked his way. He looked out the window. “Forget it. It was a bad idea,” he finally said. “A whim. I don’t usually go for them.” “Wait a minute,” I came back, assuming he was talking about giving me a hand and not about joining the army. “I could use some help on a case. Just follow-up and tracing.” “That’s how I made my living,” he said. “
The characters are all very idiosyncratic and Toby’s encounters with them are essential to advancing the plot. The war in the South Pacific is at its height and there are plenty of threads to pull together.
"“You know what the trouble with this world is?” “Nazis and Japs,” I said. “Loose ends,” Pintacki said, his hand clenching. “No discipline. Not like the movies. Life can learn so much from the movies if life would only watch. Sometimes I think God gave us the movies like a secret message, a message waiting for us to read it and understand.”"
If you are a fan of this series, you know the fraught relationship between Toby and his brother, Phil, who is a homicide detective in the Los Angeles Police Department.
"“Maybe I need a lawyer,” I said. “Maybe you need a new goddam brain,” Phil went on, his voice still even but showing a slight quiver that only a brother would recognize. “I’ve got four connected murders and you know what connects them? You. You connect them, Toby. You are—and not for the first time, as any assistant district attorney will see when he looks into your hippo-choking file—a murder suspect. We’re talking possible indictment. We’re talking loss of license.”…“Off the record, Phil,” I said. “It has to be off the record.” “No,” he said. “Then I can’t tell you.” I said, hands at my side ready to protect myself from what would probably be my brother’s next move. “Son of a bitch,” he hissed, fists clenched. “I can’t, Phil,” I said. “I’ve got an office smaller than a broom closet, a furnished room in a seedy boarding house, no wife, no family, no money, no property. All I’ve got is my word. If I give that up, I’ve got nothing left. I can’t tell you, Phil.”"
Aside from knowing that Toby will, somehow, make it through (and the Allies will win the war), Kaminsky keeps things moving at a terrific pace and the ending seems sufficiently plausible. A satisfying page-turner.
September 17, 2016
Toby Peters gets hired by no less than General Douglas MacArthur to find some embarrassing papers and a load of cash he used to pay someone off. Toby is assisted by Dashiell Hammett on the case, Dashiell is in town to get his teeth fixed by Toby's office mate, Dentist Sheldon Mink. Toby is also assisted by an orange cat that he rescues from the scene of a suicide. This is a pretty standard book in this long series. I love the L.A. setting and the World War II time frame. I listened to the audio book which was expertly narrated by Stephen Bowlby. Wondering if the cat is going to show up in the next book.
April 8, 2016
A fine example of the hard boiled wise-cracking loner detective with the requisite small group of oddball associates and in this case an often prickly police contact who throws things. This one lives in a boarding house in what is probably the most interesting place/time in America. Los Angeles in the 1940's. What makes the Toby Peters mysteries unique are the clients as they are all famous in their own right and usually consist of Hollywood stars from the glory days of the studios. This one however is General Douglas Macarthur written in both his megalomaniac and inspiring leader glory; secretly taking some time out from running the WWII campaign against Japan to deal with a personal problem. There is a second celebrity who will make an appearance (also in the formula of this series), this one being an author so no movie stars this time. I also appreciate the amount of time specific products, music, food and news the author gets into the story as well as the great detective tradition going back to Holmes & Watson of gloriously detailing the food and drink sustaining our hero throughout the adventure. Suffice to say there is quite a lot of action between sandwiches in this one, including some gun-slinging. to go along with the more cerebral detecting. In the words of one of the book's characters "and by God and the memory of Alexander Hamilton and Saint Sebastion!" this was a fun read.
January 24, 2019
Toby supports the war effort by fighting to keep General MacArthurs reputation unsullied by a right wing religious fanatic. Mrs. Plout assists by fighting Nazis who she assumes have come looking for Toby. His brothers seems to be mellowing toward Toby and only bruises some ribs. The story unflolds with Kaminsky's usual flair, humor and commentary on wartime hollywood. I enjoy Kaminsky's take on the hard boiled private eye who never takes himself too seriously.
September 8, 2014
Great series of books. I love the history of what it was like living in the 40s during the war.
May 13, 2017
Fun story, but . . .
Did someone forget to proof read?
I was ok with the occasional "din" for "in", say, but as I read on I found the many errors detracting from the plot. Everyone makes a mistake every now and again, but these were so frequent I began highlighting them.
The story was inventive and set in an interesting time and place. I would give the tale four stars as a quick read, but for the lack of editing. Better job next time perhaps.
Did someone forget to proof read?
I was ok with the occasional "din" for "in", say, but as I read on I found the many errors detracting from the plot. Everyone makes a mistake every now and again, but these were so frequent I began highlighting them.
The story was inventive and set in an interesting time and place. I would give the tale four stars as a quick read, but for the lack of editing. Better job next time perhaps.
August 7, 2017
3.5 An interesting installment in that for more-or-less the first time he addresses 20th century politics, and does so with a critical eye, through the character of an ambitious and unstable Douglas MacArthur. Which doesn't make for a particularly strong or fun plot, but makes up for that with an even more surprising and truly entertaining twist of Dashiell Hammett as temporary sidekick.
September 10, 2021
These books are entertaining light reading, featuring the detective, his brother, the cop, his office mate, the absurd dentist, and the usual band of scoundrels, his ex-wife, and a new girlfriend, who we can hope will continue to be a character in the series. Not Abe Lieberman, or Porfiry Peyrovich, but an easy and entertaining read.
August 26, 2017
I had two books on my nightstand and it was either this 1940s murder-with-historical-figures or Lilith's Brood, and I wanted something closer to brain Doritos before I started on 600 pages of Butler. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
March 31, 2021
This Toby Peters book has an intricate plot with interesting turns in it. It's one of the best of the series, in my opinion.
July 7, 2021
1940s private-eye mystery. Just OK -- thin plot. A cheap book on the remainder table. A one-day read.
March 4, 2022
Toby Peters is hired by General Douglas McArthur to retrieve documents which might interfere with his future political goals. His assistant in this book is Dashiell Hammett. Fun quick read.
October 18, 2023
I skipped this one on the way through as I had no real knowledge of, nor interest in, General MacArthur. But actually it’s a cracking thriller with Peters partnered with Dashiell Hammett.
June 9, 2024
Os que tem personagens que são escritores são os meus preferidos. Aqui é Dashiell Hammett, o do falcão de malta.
Tony arranja um animal de estimação.
Tony arranja um animal de estimação.
September 27, 2024
Another excellent entry in this series. This series was always so much fun to read. You're missing out if you haven't found these books and dived in.
October 6, 2025
Toby Peters #14. I'm a fan of this series and I think this is the best one yet. Features General Douglas MacArthur and Dashiell Hammett. Wonderful -- I loved every minute I spent reading it. 5 stars.
September 27, 2020
"What's going no, Toby? Now, and straight."
"I can't, Phil, "I said. "I've got an office smaller than a broom closet, a furnished room in a seedy boarding house, no wife, no family, no money, no property. All I've got is my word. If I give that up, I've got nothing left. I can't tell you, Phil."
That's Toby Peters, in a nutshell. And it's why I like him. A lot of my heroes are like that: they have nothing, but their honour. And they won't trade that, even if it saves them.
Toby, the forever down on his luck PI. Ex-cop, ex-Warner Bros security guard, ex-husband, ex-possessor of a good back and a nose that hadn't been broken twice and left permanently bent. His office is a broom closet in the offices of the worst dentist, in 1940s LA. His car spends almost as much time at No-Neck Arnie's autoshop, then on the road.
This time out, General Douglas MacArthur hires Toby to find stolen papers that would bring his career (and political prospects) to an ignoble end. Along the way, ex-Pinkerston Dashiell Hammett ends up helping with the investigation, which ends up involving multiple homicides, soldiers, chases, crooked small-town cops, a castle in the dessert, gunplay, sex, War Bonds, wartime blackouts, and a lie or two.
And the finale IS guessable, if you notice the clues. Or clue, is more like it. Just the one, really. And, in the end, MacArthur is able to get back to the war.
Ultimately, as usual, this is a fun ride through a slightly noirish 40s LA. Kaminsky never fails to entertain.
August 9, 2012
This is the 14th Toby Peters mystery.This time Toby is trying to retrieve money and confidental papers stolen from General Douglas MacArthur.He teams up with Dashell Hammett.
Milestones in this novel are Toby gets his cat, Dash, and Jeremy announces that he and his wife are expecting a baby.Unfortunately Jermey and Gunther only make cameos in the story.Also while Mrs. Plaut gives toby another installment of her family's history, the readers only get teasers of what it contains.
While I enjoyed this Toby Peters mystery, I did not feel it was one of the stronger installments in the series.Still worth seeking out if you are a fan of the series.
Milestones in this novel are Toby gets his cat, Dash, and Jeremy announces that he and his wife are expecting a baby.Unfortunately Jermey and Gunther only make cameos in the story.Also while Mrs. Plaut gives toby another installment of her family's history, the readers only get teasers of what it contains.
While I enjoyed this Toby Peters mystery, I did not feel it was one of the stronger installments in the series.Still worth seeking out if you are a fan of the series.
Want to read
November 24, 2012Set in September 1942 & written in film noir style. Toby Peters is hired by General Douglas A. MacArthur to find his stolen presidential campaign money. An ex-Pinkerton operative by the name of Dashiell Hammett is helping Toby.
February 28, 2009
I've done too many serious books and needed something nice and fluffy.
August 16, 2009
Good; Continuing character: Toby Peters; this time Toby is working for General Douglas MacArthur, trying to recover papers related to his plan to run for President after the war
March 26, 2010
Toby Peters w/ Gen. MacArthur (and D. Hammett)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews