Book Review: Strip For Murder

Reviewed By: Webspinner - RAM

[5 stars]

Strip For Murder Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Max Allan Collins
Class/Genre: Mystery Historical
Series: Jack Starr # 2
Penguin/Berkley 2008

It is 1953 in Manhattan. The Starr Newspaper Syndicate distributes columns, puzzles, and comic strips to newspapers across the country. Their biggest money-maker is Sam Fizer's "MUG O'MALLEY". The Starr Syndicate is run by ex-striptease artist Maggie Starr [widow] and her stepson, Jack [private detective]. Then it starts to get complicated. Sam Fizer has a long-standing, ongoing feud with Hal Rapp, creator of "TALL PAUL". Maggie is appearing in the Broaway version of "TALL PAUL". This does not endear the Starr Syndicate to their biggest client, to say the least. Nor does the casting of Sam's wife, Misty, as one of the half-clad hillbilly girls.

On Halloween night, Hal Rapp throws a costume party and everyone is dressed as a comic character, including Maggie and Jack. The guests include the cast of the biggest, splashiest, musical comedy of the Broadway season, in it's final rehearsals and counting down to the opening in just less than a week. That, of course, is the perfect time for Sam Fizer to be murdered one floor below. It draws the entire cast, the newspaper syndicates, Maggie, Jack, and Hal into the middle of a police investigation.

I have to admit that I had put this one to one side for a while. I should have known better! This is Max Collins at his finest - right in the middle of a historical murder mystery. I've been a fan of Max's historical murder mysteries and the Nate Heller historical mysteries for a long time. I should have known this one would not disappoint! Now I have to go out and find the first in this series - it's that good. It's an old-fashioned mystery, with two wise-cracking main characters with great straight lines. Thanks again, Max!

Webspinner - RAM

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