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Lieutenant Luis Mendoza #5
Death of a Busybody
A Good Reading Copy - Book Club Edition. Book Is In Very Good Condition. Boards Have A Light Amount Of Shelf Wear/Rub, A Bit Bumped. Fore Edges Have A Moderate Amount Of Reading Wear. Interior Is Clean And Legible. Not Remaindered. Dust Jacket Is In Very Good Condition. Small Amount Of Chip And Crinkle Along The Edges. Not Price Clipped. Dust Jacket Is Covered By Mylar Wrapper. Thanks And Enjoy.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1963
23 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Dell Shannon
157 books24 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 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 29, 2020
Death of a Busybody by Dell Shannon is a 1970 Pyramid/William Morrow publication. (Originally published in 1963)
This book is from my vintage paperback collection. Many have heard me mention the collection, and usually when I write a review for one of these books, it’s an old Gothic mystery or one of my Medical romances, but I do have a very healthy collection of old detective books and a few cozy mysteries too.
I wasn’t sure if these mysteries were gritty, hardboiled stories or if they came down on the lighter side. As it turns out, the novel seems to fall somewhere in between a standard police procedural and a cozy mystery.
The Luis Mendoza series began in 1960 and ran through the late eighties and boast 28 installments. The series was popular, but over time it fell into obscurity, and never gained a renewed interest in the way a few other old detective series have. I have a handful of these books on my shelf, but this is the first one I’ve read-
A woman with a penchant for starting nasty rumors about people is found murdered. Naturally, she had a few enemies, so there is no shortage of suspects. Therefore, Luis Mendoza has his hands full trying to ascertain who the murderer is. There are several nice theories he works through along the way, some more plausible than others, but I was satisfied with the way the mystery was wrapped up.
I also enjoyed the private moments in the life of Detective Mendoza, who is married and is currently house hunting. He and his wife are also cat lovers, plus there is a cat featured prominently in the story, which is right up my alley.
But, because this is the fifth book in the series, I have obviously missed out some of Mendoza’s personal backstory, which would be nice to catch up on sometime-
It took me a little while to get into a groove with this book. Mendoza speaks Spanish with no translation, on occasion, and the writing takes a little bit of getting used to. I find that happens to me quite often when reading older books. Once I got all the characters down, the flow evened out for me, so the second half of the book was pretty good.
Unfortunately, this book is very much a product of its time and is politically incorrect to the max. To be fair, the book was written over fifty years ago and the attitudes expressed here were pretty normal, back in 1963. That doesn’t make it right, of course, but, if you see past those issues, the mystery is not half bad.
I’m not sure if all of Shannon’s books are like this one when it comes to political incorrectness and offensive attitudes and language. This may not be the best representation of her work, so I’ll probably try one of her other 'Mendoza' mysteries someday, when the mood strikes.
However, I am not sure I would recommend this particular installment in the series to anyone, as I feel quite confident the book would be too offensive for the majority of contemporary readers, but if you think you can tolerate it, there was a digital copy available on Amazon-or there was the last time I checked.
3 stars
This book is from my vintage paperback collection. Many have heard me mention the collection, and usually when I write a review for one of these books, it’s an old Gothic mystery or one of my Medical romances, but I do have a very healthy collection of old detective books and a few cozy mysteries too.
I wasn’t sure if these mysteries were gritty, hardboiled stories or if they came down on the lighter side. As it turns out, the novel seems to fall somewhere in between a standard police procedural and a cozy mystery.
The Luis Mendoza series began in 1960 and ran through the late eighties and boast 28 installments. The series was popular, but over time it fell into obscurity, and never gained a renewed interest in the way a few other old detective series have. I have a handful of these books on my shelf, but this is the first one I’ve read-
A woman with a penchant for starting nasty rumors about people is found murdered. Naturally, she had a few enemies, so there is no shortage of suspects. Therefore, Luis Mendoza has his hands full trying to ascertain who the murderer is. There are several nice theories he works through along the way, some more plausible than others, but I was satisfied with the way the mystery was wrapped up.
I also enjoyed the private moments in the life of Detective Mendoza, who is married and is currently house hunting. He and his wife are also cat lovers, plus there is a cat featured prominently in the story, which is right up my alley.
But, because this is the fifth book in the series, I have obviously missed out some of Mendoza’s personal backstory, which would be nice to catch up on sometime-
It took me a little while to get into a groove with this book. Mendoza speaks Spanish with no translation, on occasion, and the writing takes a little bit of getting used to. I find that happens to me quite often when reading older books. Once I got all the characters down, the flow evened out for me, so the second half of the book was pretty good.
Unfortunately, this book is very much a product of its time and is politically incorrect to the max. To be fair, the book was written over fifty years ago and the attitudes expressed here were pretty normal, back in 1963. That doesn’t make it right, of course, but, if you see past those issues, the mystery is not half bad.
I’m not sure if all of Shannon’s books are like this one when it comes to political incorrectness and offensive attitudes and language. This may not be the best representation of her work, so I’ll probably try one of her other 'Mendoza' mysteries someday, when the mood strikes.
However, I am not sure I would recommend this particular installment in the series to anyone, as I feel quite confident the book would be too offensive for the majority of contemporary readers, but if you think you can tolerate it, there was a digital copy available on Amazon-or there was the last time I checked.
3 stars
June 17, 2017
“I did not know they admitted Mexicans to the police.” — Mr. Sanchez (who has reported a stolen car)
“Well, the force is always shorthanded. We take what we can get. One has to make allowance for human nature.” — Luis Mendoza
“Indeed, that is so. But it is annoying. I had thought perhaps, if this should be in the newspapers, a Mexican gentleman who aids the police — ” Mr. Sanchez
“I will see it is mentioned. But strange ideas are not easily changed.” — Luis Mendoza
Ed McBain’s greatest rival in the police procedural has largely been forgotten today, but should not be. McBain is certainly the king of the police procedural, his 87th Precinct novels groundbreaking. But Dell Shannon (Elizabeth Linington) is without doubt the undisputed queen of the police procedural, her series just as groundbreaking. Both were prolific, widely read and critically praised in their day. McBain has had a sort of renaissance of sorts lately, mostly due to him finally being back in print. It is time for that same kind of renaissance for Dell Shannon’s Luis Mendoza’s groundbreaking series.
Both series showed cops in a different light, and neither series was afraid to be daring in its subject matter. For that reason, both series are often wildly politically incorrect, steeped socially in the times they were written. But there is also a timelessness about them, a truth about how cops view segments of society and crime, and even uncomfortable sexual truths. McBain probably touched on the latter more, Dell Shannon the former.
The first Dell Shannon Luis Mendoza mystery, Case Pending, was so critically acclaimed and successful, that its publication in 1960 may have caused the publishers of each series to shift focus a bit to be more like the other. Though McBain would continue having an ensemble cast of cops at the 87th Precinct, it may have been Dell Shannon’s decision to have a central figure at the heart of hers, in Luis Mendoza, that prompted McBain’s publisher and McBain to make Carella the lynchpin of the detective room in the 87th. Likewise, McBain’s decision to have several ongoing cases would influence Dell Shannon’s Luis Mendoza mysteries. The early ones in the series usually deal with a specific case, but gradually more than one case would become the norm for the series. Both McBain and Dell Shannon were terrific writers, and that’s where the similarity in the series ends.
The Luis Mendoza series is startlingly different in tone from Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series. From the first entry McBain’s 87th Precinct was gritty, realistic, never afraid to go there. Dell Shannon’s police procedurals were a blend of police work, mystery, and cozy. Luis Mendoza was the focal point, but soon it would expand to Mendoza’s family life with Alison and their cats; and eventually their human children. The Mendoza’s home-life, and marriage, gloriously loving and steeped in the traditional roles of the period, became a warm and fun backdrop to the cases Luis would be puzzling over and working on with his underlings — and friends — Hackett, and Higgins.
In its own way, the Luis Mendoza series also gives a realistic picture of crime and cops, but marriage too. Just because it was the softer side to some degree, makes it no less enjoyable or compelling. If McBain had softened the grittier 87th a tad, and made Carella and Teddy’s home life and marriage about 1/4 of each entry, it would have been very similar. McBain deserves the praise he receives for the 87th Precinct series, but I can think of no reason this great series, one of the finest in crime fiction, has received the short end of the stick in modern times. The fact that Linington could walk that tightrope between mystery cozy, and gritty police procedural, and never waver, speaks volumes about how great a writer she was, and how fun this series is to read, both then, and now. They were extremely popular, and once you close the final page on this one, you’ll understand why around forty of them were gobbled up by the mystery-reading public.
Death of a Busybody is book #5 in the series. In the previous entry, Death of Knaves, Mendoza realized he couldn’t live without Alison. It was from Busybody forward, that this series really became what it would be for the rest of the series. I remembered it fondly, and after revisiting it, there’s no doubt this series needs a reboot, and more people reading it. It works as a cozy mystery with bite, and a police procedural that’s just a little soft around the edges.
As this one opens the Mendoza’s and their cats, Sheba, Nefertiti, El Señor, and Bast are at home. The Mendoza’s are discussing the crazy names in Los Angeles where they are looking to build a home. Linington portrayed their marriage, and that of every cop in the series, as quite traditional. Someone will surely object to this, but Linington also showed how busy the wives were, and what a job it was keeping everything in order. For example, as soon as a spot to build their home is decided upon — rather quickly, by Luis — it will be left to Alison to do all the coordinating with architects, contractors, etc. while Luis works on his cases.
Mendoza was always upscale from the first book, Case Pending. Impeccably dressed, and driving a Ferrari, he has remained a policeman because he has a knack for solving human puzzles and enjoys the work. The case he gets this time is a good one, and connects up with Alison, and Hackett’s expecting wife, Angel. It seems Margaret Chadwick was murdered after leaving a baby shower for Angel that Alison attended. Though the killing appears to be random, Mendoza isn’t buying it, and plays one of his famous hunches.
He soon discovers the Chadwick woman was the worst type of busybody. Mendoza has no end of suspects, and soon uncovers some of the secrets Margaret knew. One of them involves the gay community in early 1960s Los Angeles. In the first book in this series, which set the tone, Dell Shannon openly showed that even good cops like Mendoza, hardly unaware of the prejudice in California against his own race, differentiated between classes as well. One death might be more tragic than another, for example. In this one, she shows the attitudes and perceptions of cops in real time — and they do ring true for this time period. To criticize it for being an honest depiction of a time period, and cops’ attitudes during said time period, is ridiculous.
Mendoza is certain that two people committed the crime, but then he runs into a brick wall. One lead after another turns to quicksilver, frustrating Mendoza. There is another murder, and then one of his men is shot. A gentleman burglar and his daughter, a bigamist, and a burgeoning romance between a smart young cop named Pallisar and one of the suspects, all come into play, but it is a cat left unattended which gives the upscale Mexican copper who donates his salary to the pension fund the key to it all. And it is the cruelty to the cat which angers Mendoza perhaps more than the two deaths, especially since Margaret Chadwick could hardly be considered a nice person. On a whim, just for his own amusement, Mendoza calls in all the suspects for a reveal, just like in the detective shows. And it’s a surprise.
This one has some twists, and some wonderful domestic moments, ranking high in the series. Death of a Busybody is really where the series took off, in my opinion. There’s a good wrap-up of the case with information about the trial, and good news for both Hackett and Mendoza. Mendoza’s news comes with a caveat which will put a smile on the face of the reader, and move the domestic side of the series forward. A good mystery, a good conclusion, and some dangling domestic ends to look forward to in the coming books make this a terrific read. I have Mark of Murder and Root of All Evil on the way, and will be reviewing those and more in this great, but sadly forgotten series.
“Well, the force is always shorthanded. We take what we can get. One has to make allowance for human nature.” — Luis Mendoza
“Indeed, that is so. But it is annoying. I had thought perhaps, if this should be in the newspapers, a Mexican gentleman who aids the police — ” Mr. Sanchez
“I will see it is mentioned. But strange ideas are not easily changed.” — Luis Mendoza
Ed McBain’s greatest rival in the police procedural has largely been forgotten today, but should not be. McBain is certainly the king of the police procedural, his 87th Precinct novels groundbreaking. But Dell Shannon (Elizabeth Linington) is without doubt the undisputed queen of the police procedural, her series just as groundbreaking. Both were prolific, widely read and critically praised in their day. McBain has had a sort of renaissance of sorts lately, mostly due to him finally being back in print. It is time for that same kind of renaissance for Dell Shannon’s Luis Mendoza’s groundbreaking series.
Both series showed cops in a different light, and neither series was afraid to be daring in its subject matter. For that reason, both series are often wildly politically incorrect, steeped socially in the times they were written. But there is also a timelessness about them, a truth about how cops view segments of society and crime, and even uncomfortable sexual truths. McBain probably touched on the latter more, Dell Shannon the former.
The first Dell Shannon Luis Mendoza mystery, Case Pending, was so critically acclaimed and successful, that its publication in 1960 may have caused the publishers of each series to shift focus a bit to be more like the other. Though McBain would continue having an ensemble cast of cops at the 87th Precinct, it may have been Dell Shannon’s decision to have a central figure at the heart of hers, in Luis Mendoza, that prompted McBain’s publisher and McBain to make Carella the lynchpin of the detective room in the 87th. Likewise, McBain’s decision to have several ongoing cases would influence Dell Shannon’s Luis Mendoza mysteries. The early ones in the series usually deal with a specific case, but gradually more than one case would become the norm for the series. Both McBain and Dell Shannon were terrific writers, and that’s where the similarity in the series ends.
The Luis Mendoza series is startlingly different in tone from Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series. From the first entry McBain’s 87th Precinct was gritty, realistic, never afraid to go there. Dell Shannon’s police procedurals were a blend of police work, mystery, and cozy. Luis Mendoza was the focal point, but soon it would expand to Mendoza’s family life with Alison and their cats; and eventually their human children. The Mendoza’s home-life, and marriage, gloriously loving and steeped in the traditional roles of the period, became a warm and fun backdrop to the cases Luis would be puzzling over and working on with his underlings — and friends — Hackett, and Higgins.
In its own way, the Luis Mendoza series also gives a realistic picture of crime and cops, but marriage too. Just because it was the softer side to some degree, makes it no less enjoyable or compelling. If McBain had softened the grittier 87th a tad, and made Carella and Teddy’s home life and marriage about 1/4 of each entry, it would have been very similar. McBain deserves the praise he receives for the 87th Precinct series, but I can think of no reason this great series, one of the finest in crime fiction, has received the short end of the stick in modern times. The fact that Linington could walk that tightrope between mystery cozy, and gritty police procedural, and never waver, speaks volumes about how great a writer she was, and how fun this series is to read, both then, and now. They were extremely popular, and once you close the final page on this one, you’ll understand why around forty of them were gobbled up by the mystery-reading public.
Death of a Busybody is book #5 in the series. In the previous entry, Death of Knaves, Mendoza realized he couldn’t live without Alison. It was from Busybody forward, that this series really became what it would be for the rest of the series. I remembered it fondly, and after revisiting it, there’s no doubt this series needs a reboot, and more people reading it. It works as a cozy mystery with bite, and a police procedural that’s just a little soft around the edges.
As this one opens the Mendoza’s and their cats, Sheba, Nefertiti, El Señor, and Bast are at home. The Mendoza’s are discussing the crazy names in Los Angeles where they are looking to build a home. Linington portrayed their marriage, and that of every cop in the series, as quite traditional. Someone will surely object to this, but Linington also showed how busy the wives were, and what a job it was keeping everything in order. For example, as soon as a spot to build their home is decided upon — rather quickly, by Luis — it will be left to Alison to do all the coordinating with architects, contractors, etc. while Luis works on his cases.
Mendoza was always upscale from the first book, Case Pending. Impeccably dressed, and driving a Ferrari, he has remained a policeman because he has a knack for solving human puzzles and enjoys the work. The case he gets this time is a good one, and connects up with Alison, and Hackett’s expecting wife, Angel. It seems Margaret Chadwick was murdered after leaving a baby shower for Angel that Alison attended. Though the killing appears to be random, Mendoza isn’t buying it, and plays one of his famous hunches.
He soon discovers the Chadwick woman was the worst type of busybody. Mendoza has no end of suspects, and soon uncovers some of the secrets Margaret knew. One of them involves the gay community in early 1960s Los Angeles. In the first book in this series, which set the tone, Dell Shannon openly showed that even good cops like Mendoza, hardly unaware of the prejudice in California against his own race, differentiated between classes as well. One death might be more tragic than another, for example. In this one, she shows the attitudes and perceptions of cops in real time — and they do ring true for this time period. To criticize it for being an honest depiction of a time period, and cops’ attitudes during said time period, is ridiculous.
Mendoza is certain that two people committed the crime, but then he runs into a brick wall. One lead after another turns to quicksilver, frustrating Mendoza. There is another murder, and then one of his men is shot. A gentleman burglar and his daughter, a bigamist, and a burgeoning romance between a smart young cop named Pallisar and one of the suspects, all come into play, but it is a cat left unattended which gives the upscale Mexican copper who donates his salary to the pension fund the key to it all. And it is the cruelty to the cat which angers Mendoza perhaps more than the two deaths, especially since Margaret Chadwick could hardly be considered a nice person. On a whim, just for his own amusement, Mendoza calls in all the suspects for a reveal, just like in the detective shows. And it’s a surprise.
This one has some twists, and some wonderful domestic moments, ranking high in the series. Death of a Busybody is really where the series took off, in my opinion. There’s a good wrap-up of the case with information about the trial, and good news for both Hackett and Mendoza. Mendoza’s news comes with a caveat which will put a smile on the face of the reader, and move the domestic side of the series forward. A good mystery, a good conclusion, and some dangling domestic ends to look forward to in the coming books make this a terrific read. I have Mark of Murder and Root of All Evil on the way, and will be reviewing those and more in this great, but sadly forgotten series.
February 2, 2018
"Mmh" keeps popping up like hiccups throughout the book. Not the easiest mystery to read (doesn't flow well), but there's a smoke-silver Persian cat who steals the show!
April 18, 2017
Luis and Alison have gotten married and now need to buy/build a house. Meanwhile, an old friend of Angel's (Hacket's bride) is murdered on the way home from a party attended by Alison. Who hates Margaret Chadwick enough to strangle her? Then, Luis and his men find out just how many contenders there are for that honor.
A charming cat is in jeopardy but, remember, Ms. Shannon loved cats.
A charming cat is in jeopardy but, remember, Ms. Shannon loved cats.
August 4, 2019
COUNTDOWN: Mid-20th Century North American Crime
BOOK 87 (of 250)
HOOK - 3 stars: "Nice big lots" said Alison, "200 by 300. And all the trees left. On Jovenita Canyon Road. No, Sheba [a cat]!" She rescued her clean stockings and began to put them on. "I refuse", said Mendoza from the bathroom, "to live on a street called Little Woman Canyon." So goes the opening sentences. The first page is a discussion of the purchase of a lot to build a new home. In real life, I'd pick the easiest street name to spell, the shortest to write, the easiest to understand on the phone, even if there is a bad connection and, of course, it'd have to be the title of a famous literary work. It's right in front of me: a book of short stories by Dashiell Hammett: The Big Knockover. But to make it easier, I'll call my street The Big Knockk Kover Rue De Dashiell. "No, that's 3 ks in the third letter but one K in the fourth letter. No, that's 2 lls in the 7th letter." "Rue De, what does that mean...oh, that means don't ever ask me again, goodbye." Okay, I admit it, I love the HGTV shows and if this had been a book ONLY about buying and building a house, I'd have enjoyed it very much.
PACE - 2: Cats, streets, architects, and more cats. And a relatively interesting murder investigation hidden beneath the cats, etc. A slow read for a crime novel.
PLOT - 3: Allison, Mendoza's wife, attends a hen-party. Miss Margaret Chadwick is so chatty and evil and has nothing nice to say about anyone, so after she leaves the party she is murdered. (New Year's Resolution: If for some reason I go to a hen-party -as a stripper or something - I'm going to be very, very kind to all...some of this 'chatting' is just intimidating. The plot is standard for the genre, and this police procedural is solid.
CHARACTERS -4: There is El Senor, and he prefers heights so is often found sitting on top the fridge. Sheba is rather playsome. El Senor's personal slaves are Luis Mendoza and his wife Allison. The human couple shop for lots. They buy 2 and are going to build just one big house for master El Senor. If El Senor doesn't like it, Allison and Mendoza are gonna be in big trouble. Mendoza and his Mexican friends lament that they are stereotyped and persecuted and thought to be hot-blooded therefore unable to remain cool in tough situations. Then they trash the queers. A lot. And don't see their own persecution. Shannon is absolutely showing some cops in a negative light: their hypocrisy. Overall, her tone is light, but she doesn't let this hypocrisy go unnoticed. And even Mendoza wishes "Margaret Chadwick had never been born, to plague him like this with her death." Mendoza can be on the rotten side. In other words, Shannon doesn't skimp on the faults of her characters, even El Senor's. I'm not an animal lover, and the Mendoza couple spend most of their time spending his inherited money. He drive a Ferrari to work. If a policeman came to my house on business driving a Ferrari...why, I'd probably...umm, smile and make suggestive comments about going for a ride. And I might ask for a trial run with the handcuffs.
ATMOSPHERE - 5: Southern California is surprisingly hilly and does have the most stupendously ridiculous names for streets. I lived there for 18 years and lived in several places, but the last address was on Bouquet Canyon Lane. Oh, how I longed for Apple Street. And there is one thing here that I loved and haven't come across in any other book in my crime spree readathon. Mendoza visits the Chadwick house and describes the interior as "inhuman-unnatural" as he sees there are no books. A house with no books. That's not a home. It's a structure built for people who care nothing for great art (the very best the world of art has to offer is great literature, imo) and if I visit a potential new friend and they have no books, there is to be no friendship. People and books are meant for each other. Shannon really gets Los Angeles, I'm sure she lived or visited there often. Here's the thing: I've read 6 McBain novels. There is more atmosphere and character in this one work than all six of McBain's, 5 of them being his 87th precinct series.
SUMMARY - 3.4. But if you LOVE Cats and you LOVE shopping for a house and you LOVE hiring an architect and planning the house, you'll probably like this one more than me. This is my second try at Shannon. I know there is a McBain/Shannon rivalry in the police procedural genre. McBain's 87th precinct novels go down easy; in fact, too easy. I'll take Shannon's more forceful portrayal of characters and atmosphere, in genereal. But McBain does hit at least one out of the ballpark, and it's coming up in my countdown!
BOOK 87 (of 250)
HOOK - 3 stars: "Nice big lots" said Alison, "200 by 300. And all the trees left. On Jovenita Canyon Road. No, Sheba [a cat]!" She rescued her clean stockings and began to put them on. "I refuse", said Mendoza from the bathroom, "to live on a street called Little Woman Canyon." So goes the opening sentences. The first page is a discussion of the purchase of a lot to build a new home. In real life, I'd pick the easiest street name to spell, the shortest to write, the easiest to understand on the phone, even if there is a bad connection and, of course, it'd have to be the title of a famous literary work. It's right in front of me: a book of short stories by Dashiell Hammett: The Big Knockover. But to make it easier, I'll call my street The Big Knockk Kover Rue De Dashiell. "No, that's 3 ks in the third letter but one K in the fourth letter. No, that's 2 lls in the 7th letter." "Rue De, what does that mean...oh, that means don't ever ask me again, goodbye." Okay, I admit it, I love the HGTV shows and if this had been a book ONLY about buying and building a house, I'd have enjoyed it very much.
PACE - 2: Cats, streets, architects, and more cats. And a relatively interesting murder investigation hidden beneath the cats, etc. A slow read for a crime novel.
PLOT - 3: Allison, Mendoza's wife, attends a hen-party. Miss Margaret Chadwick is so chatty and evil and has nothing nice to say about anyone, so after she leaves the party she is murdered. (New Year's Resolution: If for some reason I go to a hen-party -as a stripper or something - I'm going to be very, very kind to all...some of this 'chatting' is just intimidating. The plot is standard for the genre, and this police procedural is solid.
CHARACTERS -4: There is El Senor, and he prefers heights so is often found sitting on top the fridge. Sheba is rather playsome. El Senor's personal slaves are Luis Mendoza and his wife Allison. The human couple shop for lots. They buy 2 and are going to build just one big house for master El Senor. If El Senor doesn't like it, Allison and Mendoza are gonna be in big trouble. Mendoza and his Mexican friends lament that they are stereotyped and persecuted and thought to be hot-blooded therefore unable to remain cool in tough situations. Then they trash the queers. A lot. And don't see their own persecution. Shannon is absolutely showing some cops in a negative light: their hypocrisy. Overall, her tone is light, but she doesn't let this hypocrisy go unnoticed. And even Mendoza wishes "Margaret Chadwick had never been born, to plague him like this with her death." Mendoza can be on the rotten side. In other words, Shannon doesn't skimp on the faults of her characters, even El Senor's. I'm not an animal lover, and the Mendoza couple spend most of their time spending his inherited money. He drive a Ferrari to work. If a policeman came to my house on business driving a Ferrari...why, I'd probably...umm, smile and make suggestive comments about going for a ride. And I might ask for a trial run with the handcuffs.
ATMOSPHERE - 5: Southern California is surprisingly hilly and does have the most stupendously ridiculous names for streets. I lived there for 18 years and lived in several places, but the last address was on Bouquet Canyon Lane. Oh, how I longed for Apple Street. And there is one thing here that I loved and haven't come across in any other book in my crime spree readathon. Mendoza visits the Chadwick house and describes the interior as "inhuman-unnatural" as he sees there are no books. A house with no books. That's not a home. It's a structure built for people who care nothing for great art (the very best the world of art has to offer is great literature, imo) and if I visit a potential new friend and they have no books, there is to be no friendship. People and books are meant for each other. Shannon really gets Los Angeles, I'm sure she lived or visited there often. Here's the thing: I've read 6 McBain novels. There is more atmosphere and character in this one work than all six of McBain's, 5 of them being his 87th precinct series.
SUMMARY - 3.4. But if you LOVE Cats and you LOVE shopping for a house and you LOVE hiring an architect and planning the house, you'll probably like this one more than me. This is my second try at Shannon. I know there is a McBain/Shannon rivalry in the police procedural genre. McBain's 87th precinct novels go down easy; in fact, too easy. I'll take Shannon's more forceful portrayal of characters and atmosphere, in genereal. But McBain does hit at least one out of the ballpark, and it's coming up in my countdown!
May 30, 2019
When the body of a woman is found next the rail yards in Los Angles, Homicide Lt. Mendoza and his team investigate. Soon the body of another woman is found buried at a construction site. The team has a slew of suspects. A good old-fashioned murder mystery.
June 4, 2017
A mystery from the early 1960s, set in California. Lieutenant Mendoza is called in to investigate the murder of Margaret Chadwick, a young woman who had managed to make herself thoroughly disliked by all who came into contact with her : her habit of snooping or prying information out of people and turning it against them seems to have been generally recognized. Then another young woman is found murdered, and a physical clue connects the two murders, even though it's not clear how the two women knew each other. As Lieutenant Mendoza investigates Margaret's family, acquaintances and the people she did her charity work with, he starts to uncover numerous secrets, some of them unconnected to the murders, and some directly related to the victims.
I thought the puzzle was well constructed and I had not foreseen the ending - the relationship between the two victims was slowly unraveled. The book is dated in the sense that Lieutenant Mendoza has to deal with a fair bit of prejudice, as a police officer of Mexican descent. There is also a less-than-sympathetic view of gay men, with one of the police officers thinking that every once in a while, they'd raid the known gay hangouts, "just for fun". While nobody is roughing anybody up, the sentiment against Mexicans and homosexuals is clearly negative. So, while that is grating for modern readers, it does illustrate how far we've come in terms of tolerance and acceptance.
I thought the puzzle was well constructed and I had not foreseen the ending - the relationship between the two victims was slowly unraveled. The book is dated in the sense that Lieutenant Mendoza has to deal with a fair bit of prejudice, as a police officer of Mexican descent. There is also a less-than-sympathetic view of gay men, with one of the police officers thinking that every once in a while, they'd raid the known gay hangouts, "just for fun". While nobody is roughing anybody up, the sentiment against Mexicans and homosexuals is clearly negative. So, while that is grating for modern readers, it does illustrate how far we've come in terms of tolerance and acceptance.
October 5, 2019
Margaret Chadwick was asking for it. Too bad she got it. Murdered that is.
Mendoza's investigation soon uncovers that no one liked her, including Alison (who was now Mrs. Luis Mendoza) who met her at a party the day she was killed had nothing good to say about her.
In between buying tile and paint for the new Mendoza hacienda he starts to unravel the tangled clues which include another murder and a cat leading to a surprising climax.
Mendoza's investigation soon uncovers that no one liked her, including Alison (who was now Mrs. Luis Mendoza) who met her at a party the day she was killed had nothing good to say about her.
In between buying tile and paint for the new Mendoza hacienda he starts to unravel the tangled clues which include another murder and a cat leading to a surprising climax.
November 14, 2018
This story is well stocked with policemen (12), cats (at least 5) and suspects (6). But it is well-crafted for the most part and fun. Shannon really can depict how people talk in normal conversation, in jerky fractured phrases. There is a lot of Spanish in these dialogues, not all of it translated, and it adds color to the narrative.
Mendoza remains a distinctive figure. He is independently wealthy, thanks to an inheritance, so he donates his salary to the police pension fund. He drives an enormous black Ferrari and wears $200 suits. He is invariably calm and constantly thinking. He has married Alison Weir, and unfortunately she has lost a lot of her individuality and borders on a stereotypical 1950's housewife. The cats are all terrific.
The plot is pretty good and meticulously rendered. As is usual in mysteries, there are a number of suspects, but unusual is that note of them seem to have a strong enough motive. I did guess the culprit well before it was announced.
As other reviewers have noted, Shannon provides what now amount to some social history, a window on America in the early 1960's. The police force is more diverse than one would expect, though it lacks the Asian and African American individuals one sees later in, say, Michael Connelly's books. And again as other have noted, this was a time when gay life was hidden and seen as sinful and Mexican Americans were disparaged. Hard as this is to read, the upside is how far society has come in a half century, even if there is still a long way to go.
This is an enjoyable series, and I will be sticking with it.
Mendoza remains a distinctive figure. He is independently wealthy, thanks to an inheritance, so he donates his salary to the police pension fund. He drives an enormous black Ferrari and wears $200 suits. He is invariably calm and constantly thinking. He has married Alison Weir, and unfortunately she has lost a lot of her individuality and borders on a stereotypical 1950's housewife. The cats are all terrific.
The plot is pretty good and meticulously rendered. As is usual in mysteries, there are a number of suspects, but unusual is that note of them seem to have a strong enough motive. I did guess the culprit well before it was announced.
As other reviewers have noted, Shannon provides what now amount to some social history, a window on America in the early 1960's. The police force is more diverse than one would expect, though it lacks the Asian and African American individuals one sees later in, say, Michael Connelly's books. And again as other have noted, this was a time when gay life was hidden and seen as sinful and Mexican Americans were disparaged. Hard as this is to read, the upside is how far society has come in a half century, even if there is still a long way to go.
This is an enjoyable series, and I will be sticking with it.
April 10, 2023
Bobby Underwood has written an exceptionally fine review of this novel, so I will just touch on some of the interesting points.
Shannon is slowly beginning to expand on the series; this book has two cases, rather than one. Eventually she will work up to multiple cases, some continuing on to the next books.
The cases are similar, and yet not. Two women, both killed on a Saturday by strangulation. Yet one woman is quickly found, and her bag, with all her identification, has been helpfully tossed beside the body. The second is what is described as the worst sort of case: a body with no identification whatsoever, who was not intended to be found (too bad for the killer that the bulldozers hadn't finished digging up the area) and the face has been rendered unrecognizable. One tiny little clue falls from the body...a gold charm, etched with the image of a long-haired cat, and a name: Silver Boy.
This is one of my favorites in the series, and this is one of the reasons why. Shannon knows human nature; she also knows cats. I have often felt that the passages she wrote about Silver Boy should be required reading for all the idiots out there that think pets are things can be picked up and tossed aside as suits one's convenience. Cats, after all, can look after themselves, right?
Silver Boy has not been deliberately abandoned, but the end result is the same. He is frightened, lonely, confused. Why has his world turned upside down? Why has she not come home, to put food in his dish and speak softly to him, to stroke him and brush out his coat? Silver Boy is a pampered Persian, a descendent of generations of pampered cats, most of his aggression has been surgically removed, and he has only a dim idea of how to look after himself. It takes a great deal of trial and error to capture a bird, and that only provides a few mouthfuls. He's attacked by a stray tom, and his throat gashed. His beautiful coat becomes matted and tangled with foxtails and one of them works its way to his skin and begins burrowing in, starting an abscess. Every day, at the proper time, he returns to the porch to wait. Today, surely, this time, she will come again, and everything will be all right.
We're through most of the book before the dead woman is tentatively identified; Mendoza, his new sergeant John Palliser, and Carey of Missing Persons drive to the house. Mendoza instantly knows that this is the place. Even if it's not, they have to stay. A miserable little ball of fur, too weak now to hunt or find water, crouches with dumb patience on the porch. Commanding the others to be still, Mendoza removes his $300 suit jacket and slowly approaches, speaking continuously in a soft, soothing voice. The cat is wary, but in his short life, humans have been friendly, and he is disposed to be friendly in return--but cautious. Mendoza wraps him in his jacket, and orders Palliser to take the wheel of his nearly new Ferrari. Palliser is confused; aren't they there to investigate the house? Mendoza is astonished; they're taking the cat to the vet first!
I love Mendoza.
Another fun storyline is the hunt for building lots, so that Alison can build a home (and have lots of kids!) Mendoza is not impressed with the names they keep coming across; a lot of streets are being given Spanish names without much thought as to the English translation. He refused to live in a place called Little Woman Canyon. Or Milkman Street. I ask you. Mendoza makes an abrupt, arbitrary decision: he is going to live on Great Thunderbolt Avenue! (Rayo Grande) Having bought his wife two lots to play with, he retires from the business, leaving Alison to cope with the architects.
One aspect of this book may be uncomfortable for some. Homosexuality is not often touched on in Shannon's work, except in passing, but in this book, there's a fair amount of focus. Really all you can do is either avoid the book, or make allowances for the time in which it was written, and the prevailing attitudes. I really can't tell if Shannon wrote her personal beliefs into the book, or simply put in what the police at the time would have thought. The assumption (from the police point of view) is that "they" all have tendencies toward criminality. Gay bars are automatically given close scrutiny, and once in a while they would be raided "for fun". I can't imagine any police force raiding an "ordinary" bar just for something to do; they would have to have a darn good reason for doing so. It sounds strange, because Mendoza is a very open-minded man, understanding that in any given population, you will find good and bad and indifferent, and that the majority will be law-abiding. But not this particular population. On the other hand, Shannon gives us a view from the other side, where one of the characters (quite justifiably) complains of being persecuted just for being different. *sigh*
As always, it's fascinating to watch the clues being gathered in, from varying sources, focusing on first one angle, then another, going back to look again. Once they acquire a significant clue, the whole thing starts to unravel quickly; Hackett likens it to getting that first olive out of the jar, and then the others come sliding after. Mendoza, just for fun, decides to handle the finish like they would do in a detective novel; he summons the relevant characters to his office to lay the case out before them. It makes for an excellent climax.
Yet another great read!
Shannon is slowly beginning to expand on the series; this book has two cases, rather than one. Eventually she will work up to multiple cases, some continuing on to the next books.
The cases are similar, and yet not. Two women, both killed on a Saturday by strangulation. Yet one woman is quickly found, and her bag, with all her identification, has been helpfully tossed beside the body. The second is what is described as the worst sort of case: a body with no identification whatsoever, who was not intended to be found (too bad for the killer that the bulldozers hadn't finished digging up the area) and the face has been rendered unrecognizable. One tiny little clue falls from the body...a gold charm, etched with the image of a long-haired cat, and a name: Silver Boy.
This is one of my favorites in the series, and this is one of the reasons why. Shannon knows human nature; she also knows cats. I have often felt that the passages she wrote about Silver Boy should be required reading for all the idiots out there that think pets are things can be picked up and tossed aside as suits one's convenience. Cats, after all, can look after themselves, right?
Silver Boy has not been deliberately abandoned, but the end result is the same. He is frightened, lonely, confused. Why has his world turned upside down? Why has she not come home, to put food in his dish and speak softly to him, to stroke him and brush out his coat? Silver Boy is a pampered Persian, a descendent of generations of pampered cats, most of his aggression has been surgically removed, and he has only a dim idea of how to look after himself. It takes a great deal of trial and error to capture a bird, and that only provides a few mouthfuls. He's attacked by a stray tom, and his throat gashed. His beautiful coat becomes matted and tangled with foxtails and one of them works its way to his skin and begins burrowing in, starting an abscess. Every day, at the proper time, he returns to the porch to wait. Today, surely, this time, she will come again, and everything will be all right.
We're through most of the book before the dead woman is tentatively identified; Mendoza, his new sergeant John Palliser, and Carey of Missing Persons drive to the house. Mendoza instantly knows that this is the place. Even if it's not, they have to stay. A miserable little ball of fur, too weak now to hunt or find water, crouches with dumb patience on the porch. Commanding the others to be still, Mendoza removes his $300 suit jacket and slowly approaches, speaking continuously in a soft, soothing voice. The cat is wary, but in his short life, humans have been friendly, and he is disposed to be friendly in return--but cautious. Mendoza wraps him in his jacket, and orders Palliser to take the wheel of his nearly new Ferrari. Palliser is confused; aren't they there to investigate the house? Mendoza is astonished; they're taking the cat to the vet first!
I love Mendoza.
Another fun storyline is the hunt for building lots, so that Alison can build a home (and have lots of kids!) Mendoza is not impressed with the names they keep coming across; a lot of streets are being given Spanish names without much thought as to the English translation. He refused to live in a place called Little Woman Canyon. Or Milkman Street. I ask you. Mendoza makes an abrupt, arbitrary decision: he is going to live on Great Thunderbolt Avenue! (Rayo Grande) Having bought his wife two lots to play with, he retires from the business, leaving Alison to cope with the architects.
One aspect of this book may be uncomfortable for some. Homosexuality is not often touched on in Shannon's work, except in passing, but in this book, there's a fair amount of focus. Really all you can do is either avoid the book, or make allowances for the time in which it was written, and the prevailing attitudes. I really can't tell if Shannon wrote her personal beliefs into the book, or simply put in what the police at the time would have thought. The assumption (from the police point of view) is that "they" all have tendencies toward criminality. Gay bars are automatically given close scrutiny, and once in a while they would be raided "for fun". I can't imagine any police force raiding an "ordinary" bar just for something to do; they would have to have a darn good reason for doing so. It sounds strange, because Mendoza is a very open-minded man, understanding that in any given population, you will find good and bad and indifferent, and that the majority will be law-abiding. But not this particular population. On the other hand, Shannon gives us a view from the other side, where one of the characters (quite justifiably) complains of being persecuted just for being different. *sigh*
As always, it's fascinating to watch the clues being gathered in, from varying sources, focusing on first one angle, then another, going back to look again. Once they acquire a significant clue, the whole thing starts to unravel quickly; Hackett likens it to getting that first olive out of the jar, and then the others come sliding after. Mendoza, just for fun, decides to handle the finish like they would do in a detective novel; he summons the relevant characters to his office to lay the case out before them. It makes for an excellent climax.
Yet another great read!
February 20, 2021
3.5 stars
An enjoyable re-read off my shelves. Not quite up to her best but good and a perfect example of a police procedural.
It was written in 1963 so understandably reflects the world at that time. Yes, there was racism, yes there was homophobia - it was still a crime back then. Would the story work if it were re-written to remove possibly offensive passages? Probably not or not without massive changes but it would be interesting to read such an attempt.
The principal, i.e., regular, characters are all likeable though very much of their time. As I started reading Elizabeth Linington's (Dell Shannon was just one of her pseudonyms) stories in the 1960s I can understand, and if not relate to, accept the cultural environment. I think that even then the reader was supposed to find some things (racism, questionable employment practices, homphobia,money-hunger) repellent. An author's way of stirring people's emotions & conscience in order to address what is wrong.
Two cases are being investigated in this book but as I recall her later books usually had several cases on going. The police cast in later books was also expanded which added to the books' appeal to see such different personalities working together effectively.
Unusually this story only has the two cases both of which are wrapped up. Usually there will be one or more cases left hanging to indicate the unremitting nature of police work.
An enjoyable re-read off my shelves. Not quite up to her best but good and a perfect example of a police procedural.
It was written in 1963 so understandably reflects the world at that time. Yes, there was racism, yes there was homophobia - it was still a crime back then. Would the story work if it were re-written to remove possibly offensive passages? Probably not or not without massive changes but it would be interesting to read such an attempt.
The principal, i.e., regular, characters are all likeable though very much of their time. As I started reading Elizabeth Linington's (Dell Shannon was just one of her pseudonyms) stories in the 1960s I can understand, and if not relate to, accept the cultural environment. I think that even then the reader was supposed to find some things (racism, questionable employment practices, homphobia,money-hunger) repellent. An author's way of stirring people's emotions & conscience in order to address what is wrong.
Two cases are being investigated in this book but as I recall her later books usually had several cases on going. The police cast in later books was also expanded which added to the books' appeal to see such different personalities working together effectively.
Unusually this story only has the two cases both of which are wrapped up. Usually there will be one or more cases left hanging to indicate the unremitting nature of police work.
February 20, 2020
To be honest I got this book because of the cover it is just one of those that remind me of the 70's pictures even though this book was written 1963. It was a ok book to me, I just could not get into the writing style. The storyline was good as you can tell by the title a nosey women who like to gossip and ruin peoples lives got herself killed but as the detectives interviewed everyone under the sun there came to be another body show up which wrapped up at the end all in one chapter. I felt like I was reading one of those detective movies and all they did was smoke cigs and bring everyone in to talk to, Homicide Detective Mendoza who by the way was a Mexican (yeah) and drove a Ferrari which was inherited money, I felt he was very smart but cocky too, I just kept picturing Crockett and Tubs because of the partnership between Hackett and Mendoza...I did not really like the ending of this book but as far as I have learned this is a continuous of Detective Mendoza in other books. I will not continue on I've had enough of this Era...I would recommend if you like classic Detective Homicide books. I do have to say the language used in this book is back in the sixties and before everyone came out of the closet so do not get offended if you see words that are used in this book that are not accepted in todays world. I would say over all this could be read by 17 yrs and up. Gina Clabo
April 7, 2024
LAPD Lieutenant Luis Mendoza has finally married. He and his redheaded Alison are now looking for land to build a house in the country. After all, Luis has plenty of money after an unexpected inheritance from his grandfather.
Luis indulges Alison, not only because she wants children, but because the combining of two households includes four frisky cats
A surprising new case soon develops after Alison attends a baby shower for her friend Angel Higgins, the wife of one of her husband's fellow homicide detectives.
Yes, one of the party members gets murdered and everyone is a suspect. Of course, Luis graciously excludes Alison and the very pregnant Angel from the list.
But the job is not an easy one for the detectives. They soon learn that the victim was a mean busybody that even her family disliked.
As is usually the case, Lieutenant Luis Mendoza puts his superior skills to work and arrests his man...or woman.
Luis indulges Alison, not only because she wants children, but because the combining of two households includes four frisky cats
A surprising new case soon develops after Alison attends a baby shower for her friend Angel Higgins, the wife of one of her husband's fellow homicide detectives.
Yes, one of the party members gets murdered and everyone is a suspect. Of course, Luis graciously excludes Alison and the very pregnant Angel from the list.
But the job is not an easy one for the detectives. They soon learn that the victim was a mean busybody that even her family disliked.
As is usually the case, Lieutenant Luis Mendoza puts his superior skills to work and arrests his man...or woman.
June 14, 2021
Mrs. Mendoza's name is Alison, not Alice.
Great books, excellent series, have them all in e-format.
Some typos, mainly regarding Sgt. Higgins, in singular possessive form. It's "Higgins's", as in "Higgins's car". The error is in every book in the series. It's extremely annoying.
What I REALLY do not understand is why the e-publishing company decided to list all of Ms. Linington's books under the Dell Shannon pen name. Ms. Linington had multiple pen names and book series. When I see "Dell Shannon" listed as the author, that should be a Luis Mendoza mystery. Finding it is a Jesse Falkenstein, Vic Varallo, or Ivor Maddox mystery instead is pure frustration. I love all of the series, I just expect them to have the original author names.
Great books, excellent series, have them all in e-format.
Some typos, mainly regarding Sgt. Higgins, in singular possessive form. It's "Higgins's", as in "Higgins's car". The error is in every book in the series. It's extremely annoying.
What I REALLY do not understand is why the e-publishing company decided to list all of Ms. Linington's books under the Dell Shannon pen name. Ms. Linington had multiple pen names and book series. When I see "Dell Shannon" listed as the author, that should be a Luis Mendoza mystery. Finding it is a Jesse Falkenstein, Vic Varallo, or Ivor Maddox mystery instead is pure frustration. I love all of the series, I just expect them to have the original author names.
May 2, 2023
Really enjoy these, I know they are slightly over written but I like Mendoza as a character. Also enjoy all of the supporting characters in the series so far. This time Mendoza has to find out who killed a woman who always stuck her nose in other people's business, so there were quite a few suspects. Plus there is another body, strangled the same way, was it the same killer?
Highly recommended, Mendoza is a fussy man but a great detective and once he gets involved in a case doesn't leave it. Again there are problems, could use some slight cutting but I've now read the first five and was entertained by all of them.
Highly recommended, Mendoza is a fussy man but a great detective and once he gets involved in a case doesn't leave it. Again there are problems, could use some slight cutting but I've now read the first five and was entertained by all of them.
January 27, 2024
My first of the series, so missed some background from the earlier books. Overall a guileless police procedure with an interesting perspective of Los Angeles in the 60's. Mendoza is a little flashy for me, but overall good characters. I will look for more in this series.
May 14, 2017
Can highly recommend all of shannons novels have read all and some three
Times. Give them all 3+ or better. Rich. A reader of mysteries for over 60 years
Times. Give them all 3+ or better. Rich. A reader of mysteries for over 60 years
November 16, 2022
Still a wonderful plot!
February 29, 2024
This is my favorite Dell Shannon book so far!
September 2, 2014
#5 in the Luis Mendoza series. LAPD Lt. Luis Mendoza rails against racial prejudice against Mexicans, but gives free rein to his prejudiced feelings about homosexuals. "... that place on Fairfax, known hangout of the queers." and "Not very stable, that kind, are they?" Some of the writing is the sign of a fifty year old novel.
Luis Mendoza series - Margaret Chadwick is the snoop in question. When she turns up dead, no one seems to care, something Mendoza begins to understand more clearly as he realizes the extent of the damage this one women did—pitting husbands against wives, children against parents, and sowing seeds of jealousy, suspicion and hatred. When a second body turns up, killed on the same night in the same way, things get a little murkier.
Luis Mendoza series - Margaret Chadwick is the snoop in question. When she turns up dead, no one seems to care, something Mendoza begins to understand more clearly as he realizes the extent of the damage this one women did—pitting husbands against wives, children against parents, and sowing seeds of jealousy, suspicion and hatred. When a second body turns up, killed on the same night in the same way, things get a little murkier.
February 15, 2020
Very much a product of its time, this book had it all...racism, sexism, age-ism, homophobia, judgemental main characters, stereotyping, and ever so much more. The plot was okay, and it was funny to read of a man who wore bespoke suits that cost every penny of TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS, but, in the end, no. Just no.
November 17, 2025
That was an interesting insight into attitudes in California in the 1960's.
And so much smoking. Pregnant women, policemen, everyone.
The book is very much a product of the times.
The cats were enjoyable.
And so much smoking. Pregnant women, policemen, everyone.
The book is very much a product of the times.
The cats were enjoyable.
July 8, 2008
Randomly picked this up, and it was not awful. So that's good.
October 1, 2012
What a hoot! Reading this is like jumping in a time machine and returning yo the early 60s. It is GLORIOUSLY politically incorrect and sexist. I loved the trip down memory lane.
November 21, 2013
If you want a good laugh about some serious politically incorrect agendas, this is your book. I didn't figure out "who done it" so I'm giving it 3 stars.
August 23, 2016
Entertaining police procedural.
January 20, 2021
Did not age well
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