Waylaid in Boston

Homer Evans #8

by Elliot Paul

extremely rare,very good condition

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Elliot Harold Paul was an American journalist and writer.

See also Brett Rutledge.

Reviews

[Rick Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Major characters:

Homer Evans
Finky Maguire
Leverett "Levie" Bengay
Mirak Mirakian, a dapper young Armenian
Angus Ferguson, a Scottish wool broker
Ephraim Poole, an accountant
Julio Etchgaray, an Argentine
Madamoiselle Solange de Lassigny, a mysterious, elegant Canadian
Senorita Erica Strella, a guest in hotel room 607
Elbridge "Edgy" Gerry
Blaise Laneer, "pointed face man", a bank clerk
Dr. Rodolfo Gonzalez
Sergeant Aloysius Ryan
Captain Moriarty

Hotel staff:
Bozo Shafter, elevator operator
Clothhead Muldoon, parking lot attendant
Jellyroll Morton, lounge pianist
Elsa, a maid

Locale: Boston MA

Synopsis:

Boston natives Homer Evans and Finky Maguire stop in to the Lantern Room lounge of the Dorsetshire Hotel for a drink. Music is provided by pianist Jellyroll Morton. Evans' friends, Angus Ferguson and Leverett Bengay stop in. Together they discuss a magazine article about the challenges of detectives shadowing subjects, and this leads to a bet: can one of them follow a complete stranger for 48 hours, and learn enough about the subject to compile a report? Canadian Solange de Lassigny joins the group, and the bet.

The bet is agreed upon. Jellyroll Morton will select the stranger. He selects a man sitting in the bar, name unknown, his only distinguishing characteristic being a pointed nose; so for lack of a name, he is referred to as "the pointed-face man". Leverett Bengay will be the follower.

As soon as the subject leaves the bar, Bengay follows. At the same time, Angus Ferguson disappears. The subject is found to be Blaise Laneer, a bank clerk, who then is murdered in his apartment at 14 Newbury Street, across the street from the hotel. While investigating that murder, Dr. Rodolpho Gonzalez is poisoned. It becomes clear there is an Argentinian connection to the murders. The action moves to the Arnold Arboretum where Homer exposes the murderer.

Review:

Humorous murder mysteries are hard to pull off, but this one works. Homer Evans has minimal appearances, and Finky Maguire does all the legwork. Nonstop action with a large cast of colorful characters, in the style of Manning Coles. It was bit difficult keeping track of the names even while documenting them above. Persons familiar with Boston will enjoy the familiar places around town where the action occurs. The final scene in Arnold Arboretum was both humorous and cringe-worthy at the same time, an odd feeling! This was my first Elliot Paul book, and I will look for more.

If you enjoy mysteries set in Boston, also see They're Going to Kill Me by Kathleen Moore Knight.

[Gregory · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this is not very good. It’s a mystery that reads as a cross between a depression-era musical and a film noir. It has a couple dozen characters, which readers unfortunately must try to keep track of. The main characters dress for dinner, go out drinking in fancy hotel restaurants and clubs, and drop cash like they’re allergic to it. I imagine it is supposed to fulfill a fantasy readers might have of being rich, though it’s hard to see what most characters have done to become so rich. Then there’s a large supporting cast of what are essentially servants: waiters, bartenders, doormen, elevator operators, taxi drivers, janitors, secretaries, etc., who are there to provide clues and accept the overly large bribes the other characters give them. With enough characters and strange events, the reader is bound to be mystified… but not necessarily interested.

The whole thing is a complex web of intrigue upon intrigue, with so many implausible plot points that the reader can’t begin to take it seriously. The book also has one of my pet peeves, the detective who Knows Everything (based on no good evidence) almost from the start but doesn’t tell anyone anything until the final pages. He is insufferable, and I really don’t see why the characters, or readers, put up with him.

If you’re interested in reading a mystery from this time period (the 50s), I would return to the classics by Rex Stout, Erle Stanley Gardner, Ngaio Marsh, and so on.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in 1953, this mystery takes place mostly in the Dorsetshire Hotel in Kenmore Square, several blocks from my house. It's an apartment building now. There are a couple murders, a kidnapping and a lot of money laundering. Much of the action takes place in the Arnold Arbotetum as well. The lingo and the atmosphere made the book for me, the ripping good plot was incidental. Dames saying, "say! What is this?" are alright by me. Also the turnpike wasn't there and they go into buildings that were torn down to make way for it. There's a Kenmore Cafeteria, bestill my beating heart! Etc, etc. Wonderful if you miss old Boston from before gentrification. My mother's Boston.