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Lieutenant Luis Mendoza #28
Appearances of Death
book
- GenresMystery
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
13 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Dell Shannon
154 books23 followersPseudonym of Elizabeth Linington.
Barbara "Elizabeth" Linington (March 11, 1921 – April 5, 1988) was an American novelist. She was awarded runner-up scrolls for best first mystery novel from the Mystery Writers of America for her 1960 novel, Case Pending, which introduced her most popular series character, LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Luis Mendoza. Her 1961 book, Nightmare, and her 1962 novel, Knave of Hearts, another entry in the Mendoza series, were both nominated for Edgars in the Best Novel category. Regarded as the "Queen of the Procedurals," she was one of the first women to write police procedurals — a male-dominated genre of police-story writing.
Besides crime, Linington also took interest in archaeology, the occult, gemstones, antique weapons and languages. Linington was also a conservative political activist who was an active member of the John Birch Society
Barbara "Elizabeth" Linington (March 11, 1921 – April 5, 1988) was an American novelist. She was awarded runner-up scrolls for best first mystery novel from the Mystery Writers of America for her 1960 novel, Case Pending, which introduced her most popular series character, LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Luis Mendoza. Her 1961 book, Nightmare, and her 1962 novel, Knave of Hearts, another entry in the Mendoza series, were both nominated for Edgars in the Best Novel category. Regarded as the "Queen of the Procedurals," she was one of the first women to write police procedurals — a male-dominated genre of police-story writing.
Besides crime, Linington also took interest in archaeology, the occult, gemstones, antique weapons and languages. Linington was also a conservative political activist who was an active member of the John Birch Society
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 20, 2023
I used to have a paperback copy of this, as seen up here at the top. Who on Earth decided to portray Luis Rodolfo Vicente Mendoza in a WHITE SUIT WITH BLACK LAPELS? And a white PANAMA HAT? Not to mention waving that silly gun around.
End of rant. This is an intriguing book. Generally speaking, where homicide cases are concerned, what it looks like is usually what it is. Usually. In this book, the majority of the cases are not what they seem.
It starts with a nurse abducted out of a hospital parking lot. It's very probably a robbery-rape, and, as hours and then days go by with no sign of her, it becomes more and more likely that she has been murdered, as well. However, this is a woman with a great deal of guts....
There's a horrific case where someone broke into an apartment, tied up the woman resident, beat her, raped her, and left her dead. But then a new factor enters the case that leaves everyone's eyes popping. There will be further commentary down below, because I had some problems with this one.
An inoffensive, elderly couple, poisoned by arsenic of all things. And then they get poisoned again, in the hospital, right under the noses of the nurses and doctors! It's actually quite easy to track the poisoner, but then more information comes up...and more eyes start popping....
A woman is attacked and knifed in her own home. The husband is alibied, which is a very good thing, because he's far more concerned about his wife's wretched carelessness in allowing herself to be attacked than he is in her welfare.
Tracing a bullet fired by a victim (who himself died) brought up an interesting point. 19 books after MARK OF MURDER, we learn that abortion mills are no longer illegal. Come to think of it, it's been a while since Shannon has mentioned deaths due to botched abortions.
A man is shot dead in his living room. This is a fun one, because Mendoza reads through the report as given by Landers and Galeano, and knows instantly what happened.
A new pair of heisters running around town. Nothing new there...except that they both seem to be in their eighties.
A 16-year old, strangled and dumped on her front lawn. A nice girl, well brought up, with fairly strict parents who keep a close eye on her. So who would want to kill her?
Running through the novel is the migration of a paperback book Piggott brought in to read. Schenke takes a look at it, but isn't interested, but then Grace picks it up. And Galeano. And Wanda Larson (still bucking for street experience). Conway, Higgins, Hackett. Mendoza picks it up finally. THE MAN WHO WAS SHERLOCK HOLMES, by John Dickson Carr, a biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Alison, getting over the morning sickness, is rushing about trying to find some extensive property to move to; the money has gone to her head at last. Attached acreage, ponies for the twins...her realtor gamely does his best, but most of the properties are unsatisfactory, and most of them have swimming pools, which they don't want. None of them can swim. (Shannon apparently forgot that Alison can swim; see MARK OF MURDER.) He finally convinces her to start look at properties to be built on, although Alison really doesn't want to build another house. When he shows her an old Spanish mansion, with an old winery and stables at hand, she falls in love instantly and is flooded with dozens of ideas for renovating it. The realtor is stunned; when Mendoza casually pays for the property in full, with a check, he's convinced that the whole family are lunatics.
Mendoza's 46th birthday has come up, and Alison got him a fancy "Jeffersonian" ring. Mendoza had been engaged in a letter-writing argument over Thomas Jefferson, whom he had always felt to be overlooked in importance. (I never got that idea about Thomas Jefferson, although I understand his home, Monticello, came close to being torn down before someone campaigned to save it as an historic site.)
SPOILER ALERT
The case of Lila Westcott, seemingly tortured and raped in her home, bothered me a good deal. The detectives have found a hot suspect. Then Bainbridge informs them that Lila had been actively cooperating; she was clearly in a state of arousal. While they find this grimly amusing, Mendoza is not happy. He seems convinced that even if they can find evidence against their hot suspect, Lila's reaction would effectively "shoot down" any legal case. (He seems to be overlooking the fact that the woman cooperating or not, died.) However, it turned out that the whole incident was a kinky game between husband and wife that had a tragic outcome. At this time, in the early 70's, the Sexual Revolution has been well under way. Bedroom accidents were probably fairly common. They would have been awkward and embarrassing, yes. Occasionally they would have caused serious injuries. And, occasionally, they could have been fatal, as in this case, where the gag that Lila insisted upon got wedged too far down in her mouth, causing her to smother. It was, in fact, an accident. So why, why, WHY were they charging her husband with murder? He did not want her dead. If they had been going at it in the kitchen, and she slipped off the counter and cracked her skull, would they consider it a case of murder? Mendoza told them it ought to be written off as involuntary homicide, which was exactly what it was, but even as he said it, he wasn't expecting the District Attorney to agree. (More evidence of the D.A.'s idiocy spilling over from the last book.)
One more little bit; I couldn't resist this quote from the elderly heisters: "...And one day I looked at him over that damn fool checkerboard, and I said, 'Andy, I said, let's go out and raise a little hell.' And he said, 'Let's.'"
End of rant. This is an intriguing book. Generally speaking, where homicide cases are concerned, what it looks like is usually what it is. Usually. In this book, the majority of the cases are not what they seem.
It starts with a nurse abducted out of a hospital parking lot. It's very probably a robbery-rape, and, as hours and then days go by with no sign of her, it becomes more and more likely that she has been murdered, as well. However, this is a woman with a great deal of guts....
There's a horrific case where someone broke into an apartment, tied up the woman resident, beat her, raped her, and left her dead. But then a new factor enters the case that leaves everyone's eyes popping. There will be further commentary down below, because I had some problems with this one.
An inoffensive, elderly couple, poisoned by arsenic of all things. And then they get poisoned again, in the hospital, right under the noses of the nurses and doctors! It's actually quite easy to track the poisoner, but then more information comes up...and more eyes start popping....
A woman is attacked and knifed in her own home. The husband is alibied, which is a very good thing, because he's far more concerned about his wife's wretched carelessness in allowing herself to be attacked than he is in her welfare.
Tracing a bullet fired by a victim (who himself died) brought up an interesting point. 19 books after MARK OF MURDER, we learn that abortion mills are no longer illegal. Come to think of it, it's been a while since Shannon has mentioned deaths due to botched abortions.
A man is shot dead in his living room. This is a fun one, because Mendoza reads through the report as given by Landers and Galeano, and knows instantly what happened.
A new pair of heisters running around town. Nothing new there...except that they both seem to be in their eighties.
A 16-year old, strangled and dumped on her front lawn. A nice girl, well brought up, with fairly strict parents who keep a close eye on her. So who would want to kill her?
Running through the novel is the migration of a paperback book Piggott brought in to read. Schenke takes a look at it, but isn't interested, but then Grace picks it up. And Galeano. And Wanda Larson (still bucking for street experience). Conway, Higgins, Hackett. Mendoza picks it up finally. THE MAN WHO WAS SHERLOCK HOLMES, by John Dickson Carr, a biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Alison, getting over the morning sickness, is rushing about trying to find some extensive property to move to; the money has gone to her head at last. Attached acreage, ponies for the twins...her realtor gamely does his best, but most of the properties are unsatisfactory, and most of them have swimming pools, which they don't want. None of them can swim. (Shannon apparently forgot that Alison can swim; see MARK OF MURDER.) He finally convinces her to start look at properties to be built on, although Alison really doesn't want to build another house. When he shows her an old Spanish mansion, with an old winery and stables at hand, she falls in love instantly and is flooded with dozens of ideas for renovating it. The realtor is stunned; when Mendoza casually pays for the property in full, with a check, he's convinced that the whole family are lunatics.
Mendoza's 46th birthday has come up, and Alison got him a fancy "Jeffersonian" ring. Mendoza had been engaged in a letter-writing argument over Thomas Jefferson, whom he had always felt to be overlooked in importance. (I never got that idea about Thomas Jefferson, although I understand his home, Monticello, came close to being torn down before someone campaigned to save it as an historic site.)
SPOILER ALERT
The case of Lila Westcott, seemingly tortured and raped in her home, bothered me a good deal. The detectives have found a hot suspect. Then Bainbridge informs them that Lila had been actively cooperating; she was clearly in a state of arousal. While they find this grimly amusing, Mendoza is not happy. He seems convinced that even if they can find evidence against their hot suspect, Lila's reaction would effectively "shoot down" any legal case. (He seems to be overlooking the fact that the woman cooperating or not, died.) However, it turned out that the whole incident was a kinky game between husband and wife that had a tragic outcome. At this time, in the early 70's, the Sexual Revolution has been well under way. Bedroom accidents were probably fairly common. They would have been awkward and embarrassing, yes. Occasionally they would have caused serious injuries. And, occasionally, they could have been fatal, as in this case, where the gag that Lila insisted upon got wedged too far down in her mouth, causing her to smother. It was, in fact, an accident. So why, why, WHY were they charging her husband with murder? He did not want her dead. If they had been going at it in the kitchen, and she slipped off the counter and cracked her skull, would they consider it a case of murder? Mendoza told them it ought to be written off as involuntary homicide, which was exactly what it was, but even as he said it, he wasn't expecting the District Attorney to agree. (More evidence of the D.A.'s idiocy spilling over from the last book.)
One more little bit; I couldn't resist this quote from the elderly heisters: "...And one day I looked at him over that damn fool checkerboard, and I said, 'Andy, I said, let's go out and raise a little hell.' And he said, 'Let's.'"
June 24, 2021
Muggings, kidnapping, elderly hold-up man, and various other crimes, including arsenic poisoning keep the crew busy. Lt. Mendoza comes up with his usual hunches, and his wife Alison, expecting their third child, goes house-hunting and finds a hundred year old hacienda to remodel. Great jacket design by Lawrence Ratzskin.
June 18, 2023
I was back in my hometown visiting my mom and ran out of books to read when I spotted a collection of old Dell Shannon books I'd bought as a kid via the Mystery Book Club, so I read this one.
I had fond memories of Lt. Luis Mendoza, the Ferrari-driving Hispanic police lieutenant who stars in this series, but now those fond memories have been -- revised, maybe is a good word. These 1970s-era books by Shannon, aka Elizabeth Linington, are VERY much a product of their times.
The book concerns a typical week in the LAPD's robbery-homicide squad, and except for Mendoza the cops are almost all white males. As they pursue various cases -- a woman who dies at a phone booth well away from where she lives, a shootout at a car dealership, an elderly couple who are poisoned, a pair of gray-haired robbers -- the cops keep up a running dialogue about how women are all impulsive and unpredictable and how scary it can be facing a large "Negro" who is "black as the ace of spades" (yes, that line is literally in the book). The hardest thing to get past, though, is the word "fag," which turns up twice, both times in reference to a dead man who is at first suspected of overdosing on drugs, and later an autopsy reveals a more tragic ending.
The poisoning storyline is the most intriguing one and leads to a particularly horrific discovery, yet the author still plays it lightly, as in "oh wow, look at this wacky case Lt. Mendoza has to deal with!" I brought home all of the otther Dell Shanons I found on my mom's shelf, but I don't think I'll be bothering with them. Life is too short to read too many books like this these days.
I had fond memories of Lt. Luis Mendoza, the Ferrari-driving Hispanic police lieutenant who stars in this series, but now those fond memories have been -- revised, maybe is a good word. These 1970s-era books by Shannon, aka Elizabeth Linington, are VERY much a product of their times.
The book concerns a typical week in the LAPD's robbery-homicide squad, and except for Mendoza the cops are almost all white males. As they pursue various cases -- a woman who dies at a phone booth well away from where she lives, a shootout at a car dealership, an elderly couple who are poisoned, a pair of gray-haired robbers -- the cops keep up a running dialogue about how women are all impulsive and unpredictable and how scary it can be facing a large "Negro" who is "black as the ace of spades" (yes, that line is literally in the book). The hardest thing to get past, though, is the word "fag," which turns up twice, both times in reference to a dead man who is at first suspected of overdosing on drugs, and later an autopsy reveals a more tragic ending.
The poisoning storyline is the most intriguing one and leads to a particularly horrific discovery, yet the author still plays it lightly, as in "oh wow, look at this wacky case Lt. Mendoza has to deal with!" I brought home all of the otther Dell Shanons I found on my mom's shelf, but I don't think I'll be bothering with them. Life is too short to read too many books like this these days.
Read
July 3, 2009it was what ever
November 14, 2009
description of a week or so with the homicide department; some grisly cases
December 7, 2014
I read this book as part of my nostalgic reading of the Luis Mendoza books, written by Dell Shannon in the 1960s through 1980s. So glad I finished the series (but wondered why I ever started them).
February 20, 2015
excellent example of police procedural....
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews