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Toby Peters #18
Tomorrow Is Another Day
It's 1938 and P.I. Toby Peters is watching Atlanta burn in the biggest scene in the biggest movie ever made. When an extra is found lying dead in a ditch, Toby could swear he sees Clark Gable--Rhett Butler himself--watching from the shadows. Now, years later, Gable is receiving anonymous death threats in poetry. And frankly, my dear, why should Toby give a damn? HC: Mysterious Press.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
30 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Stuart M. Kaminsky
161 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 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 27, 2023
The next re-read in the series. A serial killer is after extras who witnessed a murder during the filming of Gone With the Wind, as well as Clark Gable. And, since Toby Peters was there as security, he's on the list, too.
A serial killer who leaves bad poems and confusing motives.
Lots of fun, chases, thrills and chills in 1940s LA (after a brief prologue in 1938s GWtW shoot).
A serial killer who leaves bad poems and confusing motives.
Lots of fun, chases, thrills and chills in 1940s LA (after a brief prologue in 1938s GWtW shoot).
Want to read
November 24, 2012The year is 1938 Hollywood. Clark Gable is in the shadows watching a body being carried from the set of Atlanta burning, cut to 1943. Gable is receiving death notices written in poetry...
July 29, 2020
"Tomorrow is another day" is another Toby Peters Mystery. Toby is a private eye in 1940's Hollywood who always is low on cash but is hired by top movie or literary figures to solve problems for them. In this novel, Clark Gable hires Toby to discover who sent him a poem saying people involved in "Gone with the Wind" a few years earlier will be killed - including Gable and Peters. Peters worked security on the film, and was present when an extra was found dead on the set. It appeared to be an accident, but perhaps that is the reason behind the threat. Even before Peters takes the case, one man is dead and soon others follow. The usual cast of characters help Toby, even his hot tempered brother who is a Captain with the L.A. police department. The plot is interesting, Clark Gable acts like I would expect Gable to act, and we even get to attend the 1943 Academy Awards dinner, where we see Bob Hope, Ronald Colman, Jimmy Cagney and others. The resolution of the mystery makes sense and is a bit of a surprise. Another winning mystery in this excellent series. I highly recommend it to mystery lovers and readers who want a taste of Hollywood in the 1940's.
February 19, 2025
Tomorrow Is Another Say was an enjoyable read (Stuart Kaminsky is unable to tell a boring story) with the usual characters of Toby Peters’ supporting cast moving through their paces. Kaminsky adds some nuances this time around: Gunther is moonstruck in love, Jeremy wants to move from L.A. to lead a quieter life, Shelly Minck hires a comely receptionist and Toby’s brother Phil is in peril of losing his job.
The plot revolves around Clark Gable who is portrayed sympathetically as still mourning his beloved Carole Lombard. The whole motive for the book’s killings is goofy as heck and is the weak point of the book.
Recommended for Toby Peters fans.
The plot revolves around Clark Gable who is portrayed sympathetically as still mourning his beloved Carole Lombard. The whole motive for the book’s killings is goofy as heck and is the weak point of the book.
Recommended for Toby Peters fans.
October 20, 2021
I'm not a big fan of novels that make actual people character's in their plot. My opinion hasn't changed, but it is obvious that the author cares about the subject matter he's writing about. The mystery is decent, and people who do love this style of genre will probably enjoy it a lot more than I did.
September 4, 2023
I didn’t connect with the Gary Cooper book in this series, as I didn’t know much of Cooper. To be honest I didn’t think I had a great grasp on Clark Gable either (I have seen GONE WITH THE WIND, but then I have also seen HIGH NOON), however I liked this one a lot. Maybe it’s because the plot is so strong and would work even without a real movie star.
April 2, 2024
Somebody is killing extras from the movie Gone With the Wind. Toby Peters is hired by Clark Gable to determine why they are being killed and why he is in the murderer's sights.
This book is set in 1938 and mentions many stars of that era. As the killer writes poetry and taunts Toby, he must work to solve the puzzles and prevent more murder - even his own.
This book is set in 1938 and mentions many stars of that era. As the killer writes poetry and taunts Toby, he must work to solve the puzzles and prevent more murder - even his own.
June 18, 2024
Mais um tomo da série mistérios de Toby Peters, que genericamente trabalha com as estrelas de Hollywood dos anos 40, mas também outras personalidades.
O herói prefere a Pepsi, é auxiliado por uma equipa de pessoas improváveis, é judeu não praticante e está constantemente metido em sarilhos.
O herói prefere a Pepsi, é auxiliado por uma equipa de pessoas improváveis, é judeu não praticante e está constantemente metido em sarilhos.
February 20, 2018
Wittty Toby Peters does it again. While keeping Clark Gable from being killed he stumbles his way through wartime Los Angeles providing me with lots of entertainment.
May 23, 2018
Kaminsky is always reliable, and this one is especially good!
May 12, 2021
Another good one in the series. This one's with Clark Gable. Someone is killing the extras who were in "Gone With The Wind." The ending has a nice extra twist.
October 11, 2021
Just another Toby Peters in Hollywood story. This one features the usual cast of characters, and Clark Gable and the 1943 Oscars.
June 14, 2022
Clark Gable this time, with plenty of Shelly too, always a pleasure.
January 8, 2026
So much fun!
July 19, 2012
What do you get when you put a midget, a former wrestler, an eccentric landlady, a butcherish dentist who fancys himself a lady man, Clark Gable, and our hero, Toby Peters together? The answer is a wonderful private eye novel packed full of 1940's flavor and Hollywood tidbits. In this instance, the 1943 Academy Awards are a background for a mystery involving an incident that occured several years earlier on the set of "Gone With the Wind." At the center of the mystery is a "fruitcake" who appears bent on killing Clark Gable, and a number of extras who were on the set during the filming of the burning of Atlanta for the film.
Kaminsky does more than simply throw out a few "old radio" tidbits for the reader to create the feel of 1940's Los Angeles and Hollywood. He describes products, advertising, and even one lengthy conversation covers rationing of all sorts of items and the maddening rules that went with them. Discussion of a possible Japanese attack on L.A. stirs the flavor pot a bit and soon the reader is transported into that past world almost seamlessly. The author even takes the time to name cars that were on the road that I had never heard of... (Crosley?)
Interwoven into the fabric of his story is a terribly flawed hero. Toby Peters has changed his European souding name to an Americanish name. He is divorced and his ex-wife will barely speak to him. He has a bad back that acts up at the worse possible times. He is prone to pushing himself too long and too far and his friends often have to revive him to assist him in the climactic resolution of the stories. He is eccentric, poor, and admits that he is not a marksman. In fact, he states that he is even too lazy to clean his gun and make certain his bullets have not corroded. These flaws make an interesting character. He isn't a good fighter, frequently is outrun by the bad guys, and yet somehow he manages to get the job done. In fact he isn't exactly a Sherlock Holmes.
The Peters novels are delightful pieces and well worth any reader's time.
Kaminsky does more than simply throw out a few "old radio" tidbits for the reader to create the feel of 1940's Los Angeles and Hollywood. He describes products, advertising, and even one lengthy conversation covers rationing of all sorts of items and the maddening rules that went with them. Discussion of a possible Japanese attack on L.A. stirs the flavor pot a bit and soon the reader is transported into that past world almost seamlessly. The author even takes the time to name cars that were on the road that I had never heard of... (Crosley?)
Interwoven into the fabric of his story is a terribly flawed hero. Toby Peters has changed his European souding name to an Americanish name. He is divorced and his ex-wife will barely speak to him. He has a bad back that acts up at the worse possible times. He is prone to pushing himself too long and too far and his friends often have to revive him to assist him in the climactic resolution of the stories. He is eccentric, poor, and admits that he is not a marksman. In fact, he states that he is even too lazy to clean his gun and make certain his bullets have not corroded. These flaws make an interesting character. He isn't a good fighter, frequently is outrun by the bad guys, and yet somehow he manages to get the job done. In fact he isn't exactly a Sherlock Holmes.
The Peters novels are delightful pieces and well worth any reader's time.
January 11, 2008
It’s usually a dame. Women have traditionally caused all manner of trouble for the Sam Spades of the classic hardboiled PI world. Well, Private Eye Toby Peters has a different source for all his hardships – movie stars. He’s a former Glendale police officer, former security guard at Warner Brother’s studios and now down on his luck PI who always manages to get caught up in Hollywood intrigue of the 1930’s and 40’s. With a reputation for discretion and dogged determination, Peters’ makes an excellent choice to solve the troubles of such big name stars as Mae West, Cary Grant, Judy Garland and Bette Davis.
In Tomorrow is Another Day Toby witnesses a tragic accident during the filming of the movie, Gone With the Wind. Eight years later Clark Gable needs his help in solving a string of murders linked back to this mysterious event. The mystery is engaging as well as the setting of Hollywood in its Golden Age, but the real draw in this series of books is the variety of amusing characters that populate Peters’ world. Sharing the office of dentist Sheldon Minsck at the nearly derelict Farraday building, Toby’s associates run the gamut from No-neck Arnie the mechanic, to ex-wrestler Jeremy Butler. His personal life is no less colorful, including a three foot tall Swiss translator for a best friend and Mrs. Plaut, boarding house landlady, whose eccentricities and dubious hearing make life tough for the battered investigator.
Mr. Kaminsky has created a neat little mystery, weaving original characters around names we all know, plunking it all down into a town built on dreams. I highly recommend this novel and the others in the Toby Peters series to anyone who enjoys movies, mysteries or just plain good writing.
November 11, 2013
This is my second Toby Peters mystery and, I think, my last. The story purports to touch on the filming of Gone with the Wind and interaction with Clark Gable, and it does, but the touches are too tangential to keep me interested.
Toby Peters is contacted by Clark Gable, who is being threatened and stalked by some crazy person for some mysterious reason. Gable contacts Peters in 1943, when he is at the worst of his depression over the loss of Carole Lombard (a loss from which most say he never truly recovered).
The problem with these mysteries is that while Toby Peters is the "detective," he's not the one who figures anything out. He has a support network of friends who save his bacon time and time again, and he just happens to trip into solutions that are laid out for him like a buffet. He uses people who have a lot to lose, and promises that it will be "just this one last time," when we know that's a lie.
For the humor, for the pace, and for the sheer cleverness of the mysteries themselves, I think I'll stick with Loren Estleman for my "mysteries set in Hollywood" fix. Toby Peters just doesn't cut it for me.
Toby Peters is contacted by Clark Gable, who is being threatened and stalked by some crazy person for some mysterious reason. Gable contacts Peters in 1943, when he is at the worst of his depression over the loss of Carole Lombard (a loss from which most say he never truly recovered).
The problem with these mysteries is that while Toby Peters is the "detective," he's not the one who figures anything out. He has a support network of friends who save his bacon time and time again, and he just happens to trip into solutions that are laid out for him like a buffet. He uses people who have a lot to lose, and promises that it will be "just this one last time," when we know that's a lie.
For the humor, for the pace, and for the sheer cleverness of the mysteries themselves, I think I'll stick with Loren Estleman for my "mysteries set in Hollywood" fix. Toby Peters just doesn't cut it for me.
June 9, 2015
A Toby Peters Mystery. The conceit here, similar to Max Allan Collins' historical mysteries, is historical people (specifically movie people, particularly Clark Gable) woven into the mystery. The difference, however, is that Collins builds his story around plausible resolutions of unsolved historical mysteries that tangentially involve historical characters, while Kaminsky's Toby Peters stories focus on the historical characters at the center of totally fictional mysteries.
As such Kaminsky has the harder job, I think, and doesn't pull it off as well. Not bad, but Kaminsky tries too hard.
As such Kaminsky has the harder job, I think, and doesn't pull it off as well. Not bad, but Kaminsky tries too hard.
April 29, 2011
As always Stuart Kaminsky delivers. Toby Peters is hired by Clark Gable to track down and stop the person who is killing extras from Gone With The Wind. All were present when an actor died while filming the movie. The last 2 people on the list are Clark Gable and Toby himself.Toby will need the help of his friends and his brother if he wants to stop the killer in time.Great movie trivia and bits from the time help to make the picture complete. Great addition to the series
February 7, 2010
Light murder-mystery. Interesting due to author's background in film history. Clark Gable hires a PI to find out who is trying to kill him. He is back in LA on leave during WWII. Lots of movie references to films and stars and locations, fun if you like that stuff. One of a series.
August 16, 2009
Very Good; Continuing character: Toby Peters; cast from Gone With the Wind are being killed and Calrk Gable comes to Toby and his crew for help
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August 27, 2011Clark Gable and extras from the burning of Atlanta are being stalked by a mysterious killer. Toby Peters solves it all with an unexpected career saver at the end.
June 22, 2016
Not one of his best. And if you were a Gable fan you would be disappointed.
June 30, 2009
Toby Peters w/ Clark Gable
March 25, 2017
Entertaining as usual, but I felt that in the last chapter he was in a hurry to finish writing.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews