Now You See It: A Toby Peters Mystery

Rating:
Summary: That Old Toby Peters Magic
Review: "Now You See It" is the 24th volume in Kaminsky's always reliable Toby Peters series about a Hollywood P.I. who constantly finds himself on cases in the service of some of the most notable stars of that decade. True, the books are heavily formulaic, but it's a good formula and one that movie buffs and nostalgia freaks will always enjoy. If this latest entry has a flaw, it's that the celebrity du jour is one of Kaminsky's lesser entries. I bow to no one in my respect for the prestidigitorial skills of Harry Blackstone (whose work I saw on the old "Ed Sullivan" show) but, compared with people like Bogart, Cooper, Bette Davis, Groucho Marx and Eleanor Roosevelt, he is definitely minor league. Making up for this deficiency are the chapter headings which feature a series of easy-to-do tricks culled from (apparently) a Blackstone radio series. And, while we're on the subject of deficiencies, it would behoove Carrol & Graf, Kaminsky's publisher, to invest in a proofreader! Never have I seen so many typos in a published work by a "name" house! It don't cost that much, guys! Heck, for works of the quality of this one, I"LL do it for lunch money!

Rating:
Summary: Another Toby Peters
Review: Stuart Kaminsky has given his dependable Toby Peters mystery series a little twist, pairing his detective with his recently retired brother. The pairing definitely gives the series a spark, all without sacrificing any of the trademark wit or cleverness. Kaminsky's series is filled with interesting characters and this one is no exception; magician Harry Blackstone is the featured celebrity and he is put to good use. And, as always, Kaminsky makes excellent use of Los Angeles in the 1940s.