I feel like I would have enjoyed Bullet for a Star by Peter Kaminsky more than I did if I were a fan of old movies. The story takes place in Hollywood circa 1940 and several of the big names of the day show up, but I miss a lot of the charm of the book by not actually knowing who these people are. Errol Flynn, for example, is one of the main characters, but while I recognize the name I don’t have much other info to go with it.
Warner Studios has hired our PI, Toby Peters, to deliver a blackmail payment in exchange for a photo of Errol Flynn and a too young girl. Flynn says the photo’s a fake, but the studio’s not taking any chances. Of course, it doesn’t turn out as easy as it sounds. Toby gets knocked out and when he wakes up he finds the blackmailer murdered and both the money and picture gone. He has to a.) retrieve the photo to get his fee, b.) protect Flynn from an unknown someone who is trying to kill him, and b.) keep himself out of jail.More cameos, another killing, Flynn holed up in a hotel room with a couple of women.
It’s a sylish mystery, breezy, full of name-dropping and authentic setting touches, but for me it was just meh. A cute enough way to pass the time, but not outstanding. I do wonder if the series gets better as it goes along. It might be fun to watch the movies mentioned in the story while reading it, too.
2½ out of 5 stars
Category: Mystery & Detective
Toby Peters #1
First published 1977
Read by Christopher Lane
4 hours 9 minutes
Book source: Library
Toby Peters Series
- Bullet for a Star
- Murder on the Yellow Brick Road
- You Bet Your Life
- The Howard Hughes Affair
- Never Cross a Vampire
- High Midnight
- Catch a Falling Clown
- He Done Her Wrong
- The Fala Factor
- Down for the Count
- The Man Who Shot Lewis Vance
- Smart Moves
- Think Fast, Mr. Peters
- Buried Caesars
- Poor Butterfly
- The Melting Clock
- The Devil Met a Lady
- Tomorrow Is Another Day
- Dancing in the Dark
- A Fatal Glass of Beer
- A Few Minutes Past Midnight
- To Catch a Spy
- Mildred Pierced
- Now You See It
This was my eighth read for R.I.P. VII, a reading event embracing the ghastly and ghostly, mysterious and grim. R.I.P. VII is hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings.
Yes not for me
I love old movies so this one mught work for me.
Sounds pretty good to me, but I like the old movies!
I have only read one of these (or at least within my memory that is true) and it is this one, and I liked it. But I am a fan of old movies and fairly knowledgeable in that area. It probably does make a difference. Some of the later ones may be more related to historical characters not in the movies… Like Eleanor Roosevelt or Dali. And Kaminsky writes another series I like set in Russia.