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stephbookshine's review against another edition
4.0
*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
In Dead Clown Blues, R. Daniel Lester cleverly spruces up some classic 1950s detective noir with dry modern humour, giving a fresh new feel to a familiar genre.
Carnegie Fitch is an old-fashioned gumshoe with no money and a penchant for cheap whisky and dangerous dames. The story starts when he shares his whisky with his janitor, knocking the poor man dramatically off his wagon and setting into motion a train of events that takes Fitch to the circus and sets him among gangsters, clowns and elephants.
Fitch isn’t too great at the detective game really… he seems to spend more time drinking and bantering with suspects than actually solving anything, and misses some glaringly obvious clues as the story unfolds. However, his ineptitude is all part of the fun, along with his unplugged phone and coffee waitress crush. I was reminded a little of Malcolm Pryce’s Aberystwyth series and Robert Rankin‘s Lazlo Woodbine character, as both of these also combine crime noir and humour, but I actually preferred Lester’s take on the genre as his plot was less chaotic and more comprehensible.
The ending neatly wrapped up Fitch’s clown case, whilst leaving the field open for him to continue blunder along in his current career or accept the somewhat snide gift of alternative employment. I’ll let you know what path he takes when I come back to share my thoughts on 40 Nickels. If it is as well-written and entertaining as this instalment then I can’t wait!
“Well, I see a man who doesn’t know what he wants, who he is or how to figure it out. One with no script of his own, so he tries desperately to live another one written by someone else. To be a private dick like the ones in the books and on the movie screen except he’s too lazy and broke to get a license. A living, breathing stereotype, drinking whisky in a Fedora and chasing waitresses like in a Dick Tracy comic book panel only the speech bubble’s empty because he has nothing to say.”
Wow, she’d let me have it with both barrels. Funny how drunk people often had the best aim. The sharpshooter scooted closer and put her head on my shoulder.
“No offense intended, Mr Fitch, really,” she said, hiccupping again.
“None taken,” I said, lying.
– R. Daniel Lester, Dead Clown Blues
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/04/18/dead-clown-blues-r-daniel-lester/
In Dead Clown Blues, R. Daniel Lester cleverly spruces up some classic 1950s detective noir with dry modern humour, giving a fresh new feel to a familiar genre.
Carnegie Fitch is an old-fashioned gumshoe with no money and a penchant for cheap whisky and dangerous dames. The story starts when he shares his whisky with his janitor, knocking the poor man dramatically off his wagon and setting into motion a train of events that takes Fitch to the circus and sets him among gangsters, clowns and elephants.
Fitch isn’t too great at the detective game really… he seems to spend more time drinking and bantering with suspects than actually solving anything, and misses some glaringly obvious clues as the story unfolds. However, his ineptitude is all part of the fun, along with his unplugged phone and coffee waitress crush. I was reminded a little of Malcolm Pryce’s Aberystwyth series and Robert Rankin‘s Lazlo Woodbine character, as both of these also combine crime noir and humour, but I actually preferred Lester’s take on the genre as his plot was less chaotic and more comprehensible.
The ending neatly wrapped up Fitch’s clown case, whilst leaving the field open for him to continue blunder along in his current career or accept the somewhat snide gift of alternative employment. I’ll let you know what path he takes when I come back to share my thoughts on 40 Nickels. If it is as well-written and entertaining as this instalment then I can’t wait!
“Well, I see a man who doesn’t know what he wants, who he is or how to figure it out. One with no script of his own, so he tries desperately to live another one written by someone else. To be a private dick like the ones in the books and on the movie screen except he’s too lazy and broke to get a license. A living, breathing stereotype, drinking whisky in a Fedora and chasing waitresses like in a Dick Tracy comic book panel only the speech bubble’s empty because he has nothing to say.”
Wow, she’d let me have it with both barrels. Funny how drunk people often had the best aim. The sharpshooter scooted closer and put her head on my shoulder.
“No offense intended, Mr Fitch, really,” she said, hiccupping again.
“None taken,” I said, lying.
– R. Daniel Lester, Dead Clown Blues
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/04/18/dead-clown-blues-r-daniel-lester/
stephbookshine's review
4.0
*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
In Dead Clown Blues, R. Daniel Lester cleverly spruces up some classic 1950s detective noir with dry modern humour, giving a fresh new feel to a familiar genre.
Carnegie Fitch is an old-fashioned gumshoe with no money and a penchant for cheap whisky and dangerous dames. The story starts when he shares his whisky with his janitor, knocking the poor man dramatically off his wagon and setting into motion a train of events that takes Fitch to the circus and sets him among gangsters, clowns and elephants.
Fitch isn’t too great at the detective game really… he seems to spend more time drinking and bantering with suspects than actually solving anything, and misses some glaringly obvious clues as the story unfolds. However, his ineptitude is all part of the fun, along with his unplugged phone and coffee waitress crush. I was reminded a little of Malcolm Pryce’s Aberystwyth series and Robert Rankin‘s Lazlo Woodbine character, as both of these also combine crime noir and humour, but I actually preferred Lester’s take on the genre as his plot was less chaotic and more comprehensible.
The ending neatly wrapped up Fitch’s clown case, whilst leaving the field open for him to continue blunder along in his current career or accept the somewhat snide gift of alternative employment. I’ll let you know what path he takes when I come back to share my thoughts on 40 Nickels. If it is as well-written and entertaining as this instalment then I can’t wait!
“Well, I see a man who doesn’t know what he wants, who he is or how to figure it out. One with no script of his own, so he tries desperately to live another one written by someone else. To be a private dick like the ones in the books and on the movie screen except he’s too lazy and broke to get a license. A living, breathing stereotype, drinking whisky in a Fedora and chasing waitresses like in a Dick Tracy comic book panel only the speech bubble’s empty because he has nothing to say.”
Wow, she’d let me have it with both barrels. Funny how drunk people often had the best aim. The sharpshooter scooted closer and put her head on my shoulder.
“No offense intended, Mr Fitch, really,” she said, hiccupping again.
“None taken,” I said, lying.
– R. Daniel Lester, Dead Clown Blues
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/04/18/dead-clown-blues-r-daniel-lester/
In Dead Clown Blues, R. Daniel Lester cleverly spruces up some classic 1950s detective noir with dry modern humour, giving a fresh new feel to a familiar genre.
Carnegie Fitch is an old-fashioned gumshoe with no money and a penchant for cheap whisky and dangerous dames. The story starts when he shares his whisky with his janitor, knocking the poor man dramatically off his wagon and setting into motion a train of events that takes Fitch to the circus and sets him among gangsters, clowns and elephants.
Fitch isn’t too great at the detective game really… he seems to spend more time drinking and bantering with suspects than actually solving anything, and misses some glaringly obvious clues as the story unfolds. However, his ineptitude is all part of the fun, along with his unplugged phone and coffee waitress crush. I was reminded a little of Malcolm Pryce’s Aberystwyth series and Robert Rankin‘s Lazlo Woodbine character, as both of these also combine crime noir and humour, but I actually preferred Lester’s take on the genre as his plot was less chaotic and more comprehensible.
The ending neatly wrapped up Fitch’s clown case, whilst leaving the field open for him to continue blunder along in his current career or accept the somewhat snide gift of alternative employment. I’ll let you know what path he takes when I come back to share my thoughts on 40 Nickels. If it is as well-written and entertaining as this instalment then I can’t wait!
“Well, I see a man who doesn’t know what he wants, who he is or how to figure it out. One with no script of his own, so he tries desperately to live another one written by someone else. To be a private dick like the ones in the books and on the movie screen except he’s too lazy and broke to get a license. A living, breathing stereotype, drinking whisky in a Fedora and chasing waitresses like in a Dick Tracy comic book panel only the speech bubble’s empty because he has nothing to say.”
Wow, she’d let me have it with both barrels. Funny how drunk people often had the best aim. The sharpshooter scooted closer and put her head on my shoulder.
“No offense intended, Mr Fitch, really,” she said, hiccupping again.
“None taken,” I said, lying.
– R. Daniel Lester, Dead Clown Blues
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/04/18/dead-clown-blues-r-daniel-lester/
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