Crime fiction

Review: Murder on the Yellow Brick Road

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Cover image of "Murder on the Yellow Brick Road" by Stuart Kaminski

Murder on the Yellow Brick Road

Murder on the Yellow Brick Road (Toby Peters, 2) Stuart Kaminski. Open Road Integrated Media (ISBN: 9781453238271), 2011 (first published in 1977).

Summary: When a Munchkin is murdered on the “Wizard” set, Peters is hired to find the killer and protect Judy Garland.

I never particularly liked the Munchkins in Wizard of Oz. and this story did nothing to endear them to me. Toby Peters, known for his discretion on a previous case involving Errol Flynn, gets the call to come to The Wizard of Oz set at MGM. Lying on the Yellow Brick Road is one very dead Munchkin, found by Judy Garland, working on another film. Shortly before being found, someone overheard him in a heated argument with another Munchkin. So Toby’s police detective brother arrests him. But when Toby interviews him, he decides they arrested the wrong man

That becomes clearer when someone shoots at him. And because Garland is at risk, the studio adds protecting her to his assignment. Good thing, too. He discovers someone had tried to poison her. As he investigates, suspects keep dying. And there are more attempts on his life, his old Buick taking the brunt of it. His brother suspects him of at least one of the murders. But then, Toby and Phil have always been at odds.

But there are compensations. He gets to visit the Hearst estate to interview Clark Gable, who had information relevant to the case. He even runs into Raymond Chandler, hanging out in a hotel lobby “picking up characters and dialogue.” Chandler offers to tag along to see a real private detective in action. And Toby falls in love with Garland’s assistant, a dark-haired beauty.

This was my first Toby Peters book. Compared to Kaminsky’s Porfiry Rostnikov and Abe Lieberman, Peters seems more of the caricature of a private investigator, a bit unsavory and hard-bitten, trying to survive. I may try a few more to see if he develops as a character. The celebrity tie-ins, a feature of this series, I gather, add an element of fun. However, the meeting with Chandler felt forced to me. But Kaminsky offers enough plot twists as well as (to me) a surprise at the end.

Review: Not Quite Kosher

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Cover image of "Not Quite Kosher by Stuart M. Kaminsky

Not Quite Kosher

Not Quite Kosher (Abe Lieberman, 7), Stuart M. Kaminsky. Forge Books (ISBN: 9781429912631) 2002

Summary: Lieberman juggles two murder cases, one with multiple deaths including a cop, a bar mitzvah, a partner’s wedding and more.

Sometimes a lot of life happens at once. At home, Lieberman is involved in bar mitzvah plans for his grandson, mainly in figuring out how to stretch the family budget to pay for everything and leave something to repair the roof. Meanwhile, his partner Hanrahan is moving up his wedding date to marry Iris Chin–to this week, with a reception at the Liebermans! This, despite Iris’s family disapproval and threats which Lieberman cleverly handles through the leader of one of Chicago’s gangs. And he even manages to book Senator Joe Lieberman (no relation) to speak for a synagogue fund-raiser.

Then there is the work. A group of young thugs attacks a depressed store owner. Only it doesn’t turn out so well. The man, Arnold Sokol, defends himself well enough to chase two of the young men off and land the other in the hospital. Lieberman and his rabbi help settle things with the young man in the hospital, or so they think. But the next day, Sokol’s badly beaten body washes up in the lake.

Actually, that’s just one of two bodies that wash up. The other is a man called Pryor, involved in Lieberman’s other case. Him and Michael Wychovski rob a jewelry store–the same one they robbed a year ago. Only this time, things don’t turn out so well. On the way out, Pryor stumbles and his gun goes off, killing the owner. Then, while Wychovski drives, he fires on pursuing police, killing one of them. But they manage to elude capture-until Pryor’s body washes up along with Sokol’s.

I love the great relationship between Lieberman and Hanrahan, punctuated with food stops and ever-present reminders about Lieberman’s cholesterol. Each has gotten the other out of trouble on more than one occasion. I also love the philosophic decency of Lieberman–his companionable marriage, his acceptance of his difficult daughter, and his loyalty to his brother Maish and the alter cockers. He’s a man people trust, from Kearney, his boss to a somewhat unstable gang leader.

The reader trusts him as well, even to catching the real killer of Arnold Sokol. My only regret is that Kaminsky only wrote ten installments in this series. Having read most of the Rostnikov and Lieberman stories, perhaps it’s time to check out Toby Peters and Lew Fonseca, his two other crime solvers.

Review: There Came Both Mist and Snow

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Cover image of "There Came Both mist and Snow" by Michael Innes

There Came Both Snow and Mist

There Came Both Snow and Mist (Sir John Appleby Number 6), Michael Innes. Open Road Integrated Media (ISBN: 9781504092074) 2024 (first published in 1940).

Summary: A gathering of Sir Basil Roper’s extended family and friends is marred when his nephew is shot in his study.

Arthur Ferryman has always loved Belrive, the home of Sir Basil Roper, especially the old priory ruins. So, you can understand his delight on being invited for a holiday gathering with extended family. But city is encroaching on country as Ferryman notes, watching the Cudbury Brewery neon sign pour tall cold ones over the priory ruins. Ah, progress!

Likewise, this is not an idyllic family gathering. Sir Basil has announced plans to sell his estate to fund a science expedition. Not everyone is happy, particularly those who could lose inheritances. Furthermore, a new pastime introduces a new element of danger–pistol shooting!

Yes, you guessed it. There is a shooting. Arthur, unsettled by the family dynamics, goes for an evening walk before dinner. At one point, he notices a figure on the terrace outside Sir Basil’s study. Not able to identify the person and not thinking too much of it, he continues his walk as snow begins to fall. As he is returning for dinner, he meets another person at the door, who is none other than Sir John Appleby, a family friend and dinner guest.

When they go in, they learn there has been a shooting in Sir Basil’s study. At first, because he was in there earlier, they feared it was Sir Basil. Instead, it is a nephew, seriously wounded in the right lung. He’s hanging on by a thread as an ambulance rushes him away.

Appleby is asked to join the local police to assist. Appleby more or less invites Ferryman to be his right hand man. Convenient, since Ferryman is our narrator! Typical of manor house mysteries, while Appleby investigates, the family all come up with theories, accusing most everyone in the house. There is even a confession. One of the family is even a would-be mystery writer with her own theories.

There is also some question of who was the intended victim. Everyone notes the family resemblance between Sir Basil and the nephew, as well as the nephew’s brother. This helps account for the variety of theories. In the midst of all that, and a house full of guns, Appleby has to find the shooter while we wait on tenterhooks to see if the victim will survive.

Not everyone appreciates Innes. I would describe his books as mysteries for the cultured, for those who like sophisticated dialogue and dry British humor. And he wrote in the 1930’s and 1940’s, a different time. But I enjoyed the plot development, the cast of characters, and how Innes employs Ferryman as narrator.

Review: Honeybath’s Haven

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Cover image of "Honeybath's Haven" by Michael Innes

Honeybath’s Haven, Michael Innes. Penguin Books (ISBN: 9780140048858) 1979 (out of print).

Summary: Little does artist Charles Honeybath think that yielding his place in a senior home will lead to an artist friend’s death.

I’ve long been a fan of Michael Innes Appleby mysteries. I did not look too closely when I picked up several Innes paperbacks with the green Penguin crime fiction spines. Therefore, I did not realize I had found an Innes book in which Appleby was not the protagonist. Instead, this is one of several featuring artist Charles Honeybath.

In this book, we learn that Honeybath had reserved a place at Hanwell Court, what today we might call a retirement community. But a visit leads to second thoughts. And then he learns of the hapless state of his artist friend Edwin Lightfoot. He’s taken to episodes in which he pretends to be a long-dead petty criminal, Flannel Foot. His art, apart from a few sketches, has taken a turn to the mediocre. It’s driving his wife, Melissa, crazy, and in the end she leaves him.

Honeybath learns of his miserable state from Melissa’s brother, Ambrose Prout. Edwin has lost their flat and lives miserably in his studio. Honeybath remembers his place at Hanwell Court and offers it to Edwin. He accepts.

Hanwell Court is a stately old estate divided into apartments, in a park-like setting. There is a resident psychiatrist, Dr. Michaelis, to attend to the mental health needs of the eccentric individuals who make their home there. Richard Gaunt has a fascination with lethal weapons like stilettoes. Colonel Dacre loves his rifles, and spending time at the rifle range (and occasionally stalking other prey). Mr. Brown, the man in the panama hat, seems to be the resident snoop, aware of everyone’s doings. Lady Munden, recently widowed, grows seaweed in the community pond, her pet project.

At first Edwin appears to do well. His paintings are mediocre but his sketches show a flair of his old genius. Most are caricatures of the residents, seemingly well-received by all but Lady Munden. However, Honeybath is uneasy about the “care” his friend is receiving from Dr. Michaelis. Then he discovers that Ambrose Prout is conspiring with Dr. Michelis to find missing works from Lightfoot’s zenith as an artist.

Honeybath gets his friend away on an artist’s excursion to Italy. While in Pisa, they run into Melissa, and Honeybath reveals Ambrose’s doings. When Edwin hears of this, he decides to immediately return to set things straight. A few days later, Hanwell Court employees find his body tangled in Lady Munden’s seaweed.

Honeybath doesn’t think it was an accident. Nor does Adamson, a Scotland Yard investigator. Yet, while several people might have motive against Lightfoot, was it enough for murder? Only the invasion of a criminal gang onto Hanwell Court’s grounds will expose the murderer and contribute to that person’s demise.

While this plot certainly had enough twists and turns to keep the reader wondering, this didn’t seem to have the elegance and flow of the Appleby stories. Honeybath seems more storyteller than sleuth. I like Innes as a writer for style and plotting. However, this was not one of my favorites.

Finally, thanks for visiting Bob on Books.  I appreciate that you spent time here. Feel to “look around” – see the tabs at the top of the website, and the right hand column. And use the buttons below to share this post. Blessings! [Adapted from Enough Light, a blog I follow.]

The Weekly Wrap: May 18-24

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woman in white crew neck t shirt in a bookstore wrapping books
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The Weekly Wrap: May 18-24

New or Used?

Twice this week, I’ve been in discussions of the ethics of buying used books. One was this morning over breakfast with a friend. The other was earlier a week after reading “Is It Ethical to Buy Used Books and Music?” in the New York Times Magazine. I invited a discussion of this on my Facebook page, eliciting some strong opinions.

I’m personally torn on this. I respect what goes into writing a book and think authors worth their hire. And I support brick and mortar stores selling new books. A significant part of my book buying does support authors and the outlets selling them. But I also contribute to the used book economy. I donate and sell books I’ve read for re-sale. And I’ve bought a lot of used books and frequented the portion of the bookselling economy that flourishes by selling used books.

Perhaps the most interesting response on my book page was from several authors who were glad to see books get into people’s hands via either route, particularly if people talked about the books! They realize that word of mouth sells a lot of books and more of people reading their books, however they (legally) obtain them is beneficial.

For many, libraries and used books are the only way they can afford books. And things like library book sales fund a variety of library programs while passing along books very cheaply.

I also think the ecology of book printing suggests that there may be a value in passing along books to multiple readers, until they fall apart. It seems a tragedy to find perfectly good books in a waste or recycling bin. I also wonder if there is a tragedy of books sitting on shelves for decades after one person has read them if they won’t be used for reference or re-reading. I find myself looking at my own shelves this way more and more.

The best answer I’ve come up with is to set aside a portion of my book budget for new books to support my local booksellers and authors while buying backlist titles (and public domain titles) on a used basis. Sometimes, this is a necessity when a book is out of print. And I try to pass along both books and the word about them.

I’d be curious how others have thought about this!

Five Articles Worth Reading

There is nothing like a good mystery or crime novel for a summer beach read, wherever your “beach” is. Crimereads posted a list of 80 books in “The Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of Summer 2025.” Stock up!

One of the things I love about children’s books is the art. In “The Beauty of Imperfect Children’s Book Art” award-winning artist Elisha Cooper takes us behind the scenes, discussing both his influences and practices.

For many of us, A Prayer for Owen Meany was our introduction to the writing of John Irving. How many of these “13 Facts About John Irving’s ‘A Prayer for Owen Meany’” are new to you?

Now we come to the shameless promotion department. Matthew Carey Jordan is a friend from the days when he was a doctoral student in philosophy at The Ohio State University. Since then, he has taught at Auburn, then returned to his home turf in the Cleveland area to head up an innovative humanities program at Cuyahoga Community College. More recently he became Vice President of Academic Affairs at St. Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology. He has also followed figures like John Henry Newman from evangelical Christianity to the Roman Catholic Church. All this is background to introduce his Substack newsletter, Less of a Theory, which is about “reflections on issues in philosophy of religion, theology, and American culture, written for laypeople rather than scholars.” I’m a grateful subscriber. Here’s a sample, In illo Uno unum, which is Pope Leo XIV’s motto.

Finally, this Monday is Memorial Day in the United States, when we remember those who died in service to our country. “What Veterans’ Poems Can Teach Us About Healing on Memorial Day” allows war veterans to use their own words to speak to the service, loss, and healing this day represents.

Quote of the Week

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born May 22, 1859. He not only gave us Sherlock Holmes but this piece of pithy wisdom applicable in many contexts:

“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.”

Miscellaneous Musings

I don’t recall requesting this but the folks at Penguin Random House sent me a copy of the new John Hancock by Willard Sterne Randall. I read and loved his biography on Jefferson years ago. So, I look forward to John Hancock becoming more in my understanding than a flourishing signature!

I’ve been troubled by the incessant offers from institutional buyers to purchase my house, not to re-sell, but to rent. Then I hear what rents go for in my area and I’m not sure if I would be able to rent, let alone buy a home in my area today if I were starting out. In Brian Goldstone’s No Place for Us, I’m learning this is just the tip of a much larger national problem. Unfortunately, for many working poor, affordable housing is out of reach or simply unavailable. Increasing numbers are doubling up, living in extended stay hotels or rooming houses. I’d like to think we are a better country than this, but the facts in many communities suggest otherwise.

Our local Barnes & Noble is opening in a new location on May 28. Thy are taking over a bigger retail space in a shopping center across the street from their old location. My membership just renewed with them so I’m entitled to a new tote bag. I wonder if I’ll get any other swag to put in it (or maybe a book or two). At any rate, I’m delighted that they continue to have a presence in our part of town.

Next Week’s Reviews

Monday: Gabrielle Zevin, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

Tuesday: George MacDonald, Gutta Percha Willie

Wednesday: Liz Charlotte Grant, Knock at the Sky

Thursday: Bruce Herman, Makers By Nature

Friday: Rachel G. Jordan, If the Ocean Has a Soul

So, that’s The Weekly Wrap for May 18-24, 2025!

Find past editions of The Weekly Wrap under The Weekly Wrap heading on this page

Review: Lieberman’s Day

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Cover image of "Lieberman's Day" by Stuart M. Kaminsky

Lieberman’s Day, Stuart M. Kaminsky. Open Road Media (ISBN: 9781480400207) 2013 (first published in 1994).

Summary: Abe’s nephew is killed and his wife shot in a mugging while a murderer stalks the abused ex-wife Hanrahan is sheltering.

Moments after walking out the door from a dinner party on a cold winter night, David Lieberman and his wife Carol confront two muggers. Things go awry and one mugger shoots David, the other, Carol. David dies, but Carol, critically wounded and pregnant, survives. Abe Lieberman, who hasn’t yet fallen asleep gets the call at 12:02 am. David is Abe’s nephew.

The book chronicles the next twenty-four hours as Abe, and his recovering-alcoholic partner Bill Hanrahan track down the killers. At the same time, Abe must try to comfort his brother and sister-in-law in the loss of their son, drawing on the help of his tight-knit Jewish community, including the Alter Cockers, a group of older men who hang out at his brother’s diner.

Abe relies on his street connections, cutting a deal with El Perro, a drug kingpin, to find the killers. Shooting a pregnant woman is an offense even to them. Meanwhile Hanrahan learns that the violent ex-husband of an abused woman and her son, who he has sheltered, is back in town. Will Hanrahan find him before he finds them?

Both men also struggle with domestic issues. Abe’s daughter’s marriage has broken up but now she struggles as her former husband is seeing another woman. Abe is loyal to his daughter while liking the father of his grandchild. He’s met the woman he’s seeing and likes her as well. Bill’s wife walked out some time ago. Despite a relationship with an Asian woman who is ready for more, he cannot let go.

Meanwhile the plot is building toward double climaxes in Bill’s apartment and Carol’s hospital room. For one of the killers, Carol, while alive, is a threat.

This is a relatively short novel. The fast-paced double plot unfolds in the span of one very long day during a very cold Chicago winter. Amid all this, I enjoyed Lieberman’s street-savvy wisdom combined with the restraint that accompanies others in their grief, never saying the stupid thing.