A review by kimberly68
The Puzzle of the Happy Hooligan by Stuart Palmer, Otto Penzler

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This book is fun. I enjoyed Hildegarde Winters. She's great fun. But it was written in 1941 and it shows. Language describing black minor characters is demeaning and attitudes toward women are what you'd expect. But it's a great puzzle mystery. And a look back at old Hollywood. I do find it interesting that the racist language is never put in the mouth of Miss Withers or her detective sidekick Oscar Peters. I wonder if that was a conscious decision by the author. They are represented as the forces of intelligence and inquiry. Probably overthinking it. But it's a nice thought 
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