Book Review: Viva Las Vengeance

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Viva Las Vengeance     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Daniel Klein
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Elvis Presley # 3
St. Martin’s, Mar 2003, $23.95, 288 pp.

Elvis is happy to be back in Vegas after a month in Graceland where Priscilla gave him a hard time because of Ann Margaret. Elvis drops in on insult comedian Howie Pickles’ show at the Sahara. Besides irritating Elvis with his irreverent references to the Lord, Pickles unmercifully picks on an obese woman. The other act, Siva Ree's exotic dance with a panther, thrills Elvis who finds he desires the performer.

The next day, Elvis learns that Pickles’ victim Mrs. Donaldson was murdered and nailed to the billboard of a chapel (the same one that starred in an Elvis flick). The police arrest the husband of the deceased, but the person who found the corpse Digby Ferguson believes the local cops rushed to judgment. He tries to persuade Elvis to join with him to investigate as he knows the rock legend has experience in solving crimes (see KILL ME TENDER and BLUE SUEDE CLUES).

Though Elvis amateur sleuth takes a long time to begin, fans of the superstar will relish this tale awhile wondering if Daniel Klein had a sighting as the plot brings Presley so vividly to life. The story line engages readers with its insightful look at a complete Elvis to include frustration with movie scripts (Roustabout is the current one) and his complicated love life which is made more complex by Siva. The story is well written, but more for the Elvis guru than the amateur sleuth aficionado.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner