Skip a Beat

by Henry Kane

One of the great men of the country, Adam Woodward, has just hired Peter Chambers to be his bodyguard. Woodward, a famous newspaper columnist, is about to expose someone as a Communist. But before can start to do his job, Woodward is gunned down in the street. And Chambers is the only witness to the murder. The solution to Woodward's murder was carefully written down—but Woodward had hidden it where Peter Chambers couldn't find it. A Peter Chambers mystery by Noir Master, Henry Kane.

47 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 16, 2010

About the author

Author Henry Kane was a lawyer who seemed to prefer writing. In his career, wrote over 60 novels, including about 30 featuring Peter Chambers. Other short-lived series characters were PIs Marla Trent and retired NYPD detective inspector turned P.I. McGregor. He also wrote the movie adaptations for Ed McBain's 87th Precinct's Cop Hater and The Mugger. And, in light of his experience with Chambers, Kane was the perfect choice to pen an original novel starring television's Peter Gunn.

He also wrote under the pseudonyms Anthony McCall, Kenneth R. McKay, and Mario J. Sagola. He is the creator of Peter Chambers, a private eye in New York City, McGregor, an ex-cop turned private eye in New York City, and Maria Trent. Kane also contributed to the series of 'Ellery Queen' novels ghostwritten by other authors.

Reviews

[Dave]

Henry Kane published thirty Peter Chambers novels over the course of twenty-five years from 1947 to 1972 as well as dozens of short stories. Skip a Beat is probably among the toughest and most hardboiled of the Chambers stories. This one is more violent, more unyielding than the usual Chambers novel and a bit less straightforward in its plotting. Henry Kane is a terrific writer and these PI stories are easy to read and very quick moving.

[Jim]

Good solid Noir detective story.