Detective

Stanley Hastings #1

by Parnell Hall

Poor Stanley Hastings! All his detective pursuits end in failure. So when Martin Albrecht comes to him with a case for a real detective, Stanley turns him away. Unfortunately, Stanley's accursed path leads to his finding Albrecht dead. Now that he's been challenged and has to take the case; maybe Stanley will finally prove that he's a real detective. To solve this case Stanley must descend into the modern-day inferno of drugs and mob operations. Will he come out of it alive.?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Humor, Detective

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Gabi Coatsworth · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a debut novel, and it shows. The idea for the main character is a good one, but the writing was uneven, and there were stretches that could have used a better editor. I don't think I'll be reading any more of these.

[Alan Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a series, featuring Stanley Hastings. In theory, he's a licensed New York City private detective, but in reality, he's an ambulance chaser. He gets calls from the lawyer he works with (Richard, a high volume advertises on TV personal injury lawyer), and Stanley's job is to sign up the clients, take a basic history, and get pictures of the defective stairs, crack in the sidewalk, etc. that caused the injury. Stanley doesn't feel very good for himself, and thinks he is "really" a writer (terrible cliche!).

But then out of the blue someone wants to hire him for a "real" case--to find out who is trying to kill him. Stanley turns him don flat, but the next morning, the guy ends up dead. Of course--another cliche--Stanley is driven to figure out what happened to his prospective client.

From this set up, Parnell Hall does a really good job of developing a plot, giving Stanley some depth, and keeping the action going. In the end, bad guys get caught, and Stanley learns something about himself. Definitely will be reading the next in the series.

[Jenny Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stanley Hastings is more a gopher than a real detective, until Albrecht Martin walks in with a story. Hastings convinces Martin to change names in the story so that Hastings doesn't really know what's going on and therefore doesn't have to feel responsible for not helping. But when Martin turns up dead, Hastings feels guilty anyway and stumbles into being a detective, literally.

Hall's style drew me in and I couldn't let go. While the flashbacks can sometimes me confusing and sometimes Hastings is a bit crude, he is still a fascinating character.

[Esri Allbritten · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in one of Parnell Hall's series, this book takes a little bit of time to get off the ground, and there's a couple of scenes that deal too much with highways, but it's still a fun noir-ish mystery with a Bonus points for letting us in on what it's like to round up clients for an ambulance-chasing attorney.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit outdated (prior to cell phones) but still fun. Wanted to start this series at the beginning. Will probably zip through a few as "filler" in between longer or more serious reads for diversion. Humorous predicaments, enough plot twist but not too deep or gory.

[Kristal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was fun! Definitely a first novel, but with real potential. We'll see if Mr. Hall lives up to it...

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stanley Hastings is a failed writer, now insurance claim ambulance chaser, officially a private detective for the ambulance chasing job, having trouble making ends meet in mid-1980's New York City, when a worried guy stumbles into his office and asks for help. This fellow has found himself in trouble with some gangsters after racking up a huge gambling debt and robbing them while working as a drug mule to pay off the debt. When Hastings tells this guy he's more of a process claims adjuster and not really a bodyguard, the guy leaves and ends up dead.

Hastings has an everyman, loser personality, has a wife he loves and is annoyed by, and is not the best of investigators, but decides he is going to solve this murder mystery, almost as an existential mid-life crisis of meaning and purpose.

Verdict: A dated and unfocused criminal hijinks adventure but with a relatable protagonist. Humorous undertones but just not a very interesting mystery.

Jeff's rating: 2 / 5 (Okay)
movie rating if made into a movie: R

[Judith Post · Rating 5 out of 5]

The truth is, I read this to give P.I. novels another try. I'm mostly a cozy fan. This P.I. appealed to me, though, because Stanley Hastings is the most reluctant P.I. I've ever read. He has no faith in himself or his abilities and doesn't expect much to come from his efforts. The humor lifted the entire story, and Hastings kept coming up against brick walls and figuring out how to get past each hurdle. Each time he did, he surprised himself. By the end of the book, he'd taken on a drug ring and proved they'd killed a client he felt guilty he didn't protect. An enjoyable read.

[Paul Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Hall has a flair for writing that's addictive. Mixing serious sleuthing with a sense of humor, the wannabe private detective Hastings reminds me of a modern-day Sam Spade. Except he's married, has a kid, and operates in NYC instead of San Fran. Desperate to prove he can be a real detective and solve a murder, Stan gets in way over his head. The whole novel is well-done and a laugh riot.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the voice of Stanley Hastings but just can't be convinced he can take down a drug and gambling outfit.

I was terribly bored by all of the New York streets and highways, which were meticulously detailed in Red's drive.

Quick read. May read more in the series.

I own a copy of this murder mystery.

[S.F. Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goofy Book

I never fully grasped the plot. The characters were not fleshed out and the dialog was awful. The choppy manner in which the book was written makes it hard to read and a real chore to keep up with what’s going on. I would NOT recommend this book to anyone.

[Brian O'Leary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read them out of order, but I suggest you read this one first, if you like it, the rest are pretty much the same formula and you will enjoy them all

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot, writing and humor, make for a fun quick read.

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Failed actor, failed writer Stanley Hastings finds himself inexplicably in a role that he never anticipated playing or writing about - private detective. But the truth is, he isn't a REAL private detective, even though he possesses a license that says he is and and office with "Private Detective" on the door. What he really is is an ambulance chaser for a lawyer who specializes in personal injury lawsuits. Stanley goes out to interview the potential client and signs them up to be represented by his boss. He is really the most pathetic excuse for a P.I.

But Martin Albrecht doesn't know that when he sees Stanley's office with its "Private Detective" sign. He walks in and tries to hire Stanley for a real case in which he would serve as a bodyguard because Mr. Albrecht believes someone is trying to kill him. Stanley turns him away, but, sadly, Albrecht's suspicions were spot on. The next day Stanley reads in the newspaper that Albrecht has been murdered.

Guilt over the fact that he had refused to help the murdered man leads Stanley to resolve that he will, in fact, be a real detective - at least long enough to solve the mystery of his would-be client's murder. Little does he know that his investigation will lead him into the world of drug deals and mob operations in Miami and New York, a world that he is completely unprepared to navigate.

Still, even though he admits to being a coward, Stanley doggedly pursues his prey and begins to learn on the job what it is like to be a detective. Maybe this is a role he can play after all.

This 1988 publication was the first in what is now a long series of Stanley Hastings mysteries by Parnell Hall and it has some of the weaknesses of many first novels. The plot meanders around a bit, and we learn far too much about navigating the streets and highways of New York City and New Jersey. Stanley's wife and five-year-old son are tangential characters who seem like ghosts. The focus is all on Stanley, which is okay except that it doesn't really allow for much development of the other characters, some of whom we are simply told about but never actually meet.

The tone of the book is light and humorous. Stanley reminds us on several occasions that he is no Sam Spade. He doesn't own a gun. In fact, guns make him very uncomfortable.

Although he's something of a goofball, Stanley is a likable enough sort of guy and the story shows promise. I think it will probably be worth following to see where the series takes him.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was really good, i followed the whole thing, even with the disney names he gave for people

a man came to his detective agency , but he was really only working for the lawyer on slip and falls. the guy wanted him to help him find the guy thats going to try and kill him and went thru the whole drug and gambling story. he didnt want to get involved

he later reads in teh paper the guy gets killed like he said

so he feels bad and embarks on a quest to find the people who did it and have them pay

he did find the people, got some coke in the process (which he tried which surprised me) and set them up so the police were involved and eventually arrested them. he did manage to save one guy from being killed and knocked the bad guy out with a sap in the bathroom of a restaurant

he got a costume of a phone man and used that to get in the house and plant bugs. i was surprised he knew how to get up the pole and cut the phone line.

all of this he managed to hide from his wife (which also surprised me). he racked up a huge cc bill which she thought someone stole as he never told her he flew to fl

im starting to read the series in order now

im really enjoying them

[Wendelah1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, fast-paced, thoroughly engrossing detective novel, the first in a series, and if I am not mistaken, the first published novel by Parnell Hall. The detective in the title is Stanley Hastings, an unemployed actor/writer who moonlights as a private investigator for an ambulance-chasing lawyer. As he makes clear right from the beginning, Stanley is not a movie-style detective. He doesn't even own a gun, at least not at the beginning of this series. Stanley Hastings is just a nice guy who gets in over his head. For no reason other than that he's one of the good guys, Stanley feels responsible when a potential client he's turned down is subsequently murdered; in fact, he feels so torn up by not helping this guy that he decides to try to do the right thing and get the responsible party put in jail. These are bad, bad guys Stanley's up against, and he has no idea what's he's doing most of the time, but despite his best efforts, he succeeds. I have no idea if the rest of this series is as much fun as "Detective" but I do plan to find out.

[J.F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has a very witty take on the world. The main character's self-deprecation is humorous and well crafted, even when he's copping to some not-strictly-PC attitudes.

I love the fact that it's a series of umpteen novels (I consume a lot of Kindle books on my weekly airline trips). I've read around 8 of them so far and haven't gotten tired of the familiar characters (or the author's wit).

At first, it was slightly off-putting that, given the time-frame, no one had cellphones and various professionals were always looking for a payphone, but then I got into the spirit of life in NYC in the early 90's (guessing here) and now I think it's a hoot.

I've ordered a few Kindle editions ahead and continue to look forward to the next mess the main character is going to find himself in.

P.S. all the Kindle editions are at $2.99, which isn't the cheapest around, but does enable me to comfortably keep going with the series.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fact I read it was a total fluke (I got it in a book exchange in a MWR in Iraq the last day I was there). It totally hooked me and I read it in a couple of hours. It's a very hard book to find so I consider myself lucky to have read it once. It was fantastic! I came back and ebayed a copy right away. The only bad thing about this series is they stopped publishing it and finding all the books is difficult, I can't say if reading them in order is really important since I've only read the first one, but I bet if you read any of them before the first one you just won't get the right feel for the character at all.

[Jeri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I loved Stanley Hastings' style. A P.I. who never does any investigating (he signs up accident victims for an ambulance chasing lawyer), no one could be more surprised when someone walks in off the street wanting to hire his services. When the prospective client turns up dead after being turned away, our hero decides to become a real P.I. and bring the villains to justice. How he does it is a marvel, and how he -describes- it is wonderful.

[Benjamin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stanley Hastings is the perfect Beta-male detective. An average Joe down on his luck, actor-turned-writer-turned-husband-turned-insurance-investigator-turned-PI that makes you laugh while keeping you turning the pages in suspense and intrigue. This is the first in a series of never-disappointing novels by Mr. Hall who is now more famous for his "Puzzle Lady" series. I recommend Stanley Hastings though to pulp-fiction fans with leanings toward Elmore Leonard and Loren D. Estelman.

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a huge Stuart Woods fan, and after reading his latest SMOOTH OPERATOR in which Parnell Hall collaborated, I wanted to read some of Hall's work.... this one was a major disappointment. I am now reading MURDER, his second book, and it is already MUCH better!
I found the writing lame and the plot unclear for about half of the book. Since there are at least 19 novels featuring Stanley, I will read a few more to see if the improvement continues.

[GlenK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stanley Hastings is a wannabe writer who - in the first of a long-running series - is the unappreciated leg man for a personal injury lawyer. By turns humorous and compelling with a strong character in Hastings, this is a great read. And the nice thing about discovering a series that's been around is there are lots more to read right away (more than 15 in this case).

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Good; Continuing character: Stanley Hastings (first in series); an insurance investigator tries to infiltrate a drug scheme after refusing to help a man who comes to him, then is killed the next day by the dealera

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seems dated, even for 1987. I am plodding along with this book--it has not captured me half-way through. Done--nor did it ever capture me. I am very character-focused in my reading, and I don't really like Stanley Hastings.

[Gabbiadini · Rating 4 out of 5]

slick crime caper , looking forward to murder.... The next one.

[Marya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably 3.5 stars, since it's certainly better-written than some I give 3 stars to. This is a 1980s murder mystery.

[Carole Kauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Likeable character. Fairly entertaining. One of those books that I swear I had read before but had only a vague recollection. Should I be mentioning this?

[Linda Blakely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

A story that drags on for sometime and help s the story some. Not a thriller by any stretch of the imagination.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: actor Stanley Hastings is forced to become a detective when Martin Albrecht ends up dead. It leads him to the mob and drugs.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

easy read.