The Big Boat to Bye-Bye

Is Ellis Weiner a mystery writer who happens to be extremely funny or a humor writer who happens to write detective novels? Either way, you must read his two books -- after which you will surely hope there are a lot more to follow.

Children's TV producers Charlotte Purdy and her spouse Donnie Dansicker, owners of D & D Productions hire private investigator Pete Ingalls to uncover the identity of a blackmailer. Charlotte explains that someone demands one million dollars in a few days or a damning tape containing lewd behavior by the puppet stars of the popular PBS kiddy show Playground Pals, the flagship of D & D, will be shown over the net. Pete begins making inquiries after interviewing the staff as it seems obvious that to have taped the bawdy exchanges that occurred between actual takes, it had to be an inside job. He quickly discovers almost everyone detests the producers and had access to the tape. While Pete is ably aided by his office assistant wannabe actress Stephanie Constantino, the case turns deadly when murder occurs. Following up on his sleuthing in DROP DEAD, MY LOVELY, Pete works the Hollywood crowd as he tries to solve the case in which there are suspects galore. He remains a pop philosopher with observations on life that would make everyone except Stephanie, who knows better, believe that he has too much time on his hands. The blackmail turning into a homicide investigation is cleverly conceived so that fans of Hollywood Noir receive an enjoyable often amusing one reel tale. Harriet Klausner