This time politics absorbs Chicago series shamus Nate Heller, whose adventures (in Carnal Hours, etc.) place him in the middle of the century's most dramatic crimes. It's 1935, and the dogged, skirt-chasing Nate is working as a bodyguard for populist Louisiana loudmouth and political loose cannon, Senator Huey Long. Long is tough and brash, and his lengthy list of enemies includes former employees, the oil industry and anyone ever subjected to one of the verbal shellackings for which he's famous. Trouble is, when the "Kingfish" is shot, his psychotic henchmen open fire with a vengeance, making it hard to tell exactly where the fatal bullet came from. At the urging of Long's widow, herself aglow with thoughts of double indemnity, Nate matches bullets to guns and guns to trigger fingers, all the while playing house with one of Huey's canny concubines. As always, Collins's sense of place and time is unerringly acute, and he happily indulges in re-creating Long's fiery stump style. Although Collins has carved out a mystery subgenre that he occupies nearly alone, he and his detective would be a tough act to follow even if they did have a serious rival or two. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Some think Louisiana governor Huey Long is akin to Hitler and Mussolini, but others believe he's just a good ol' boy trying to help the common man. The president and sole operative of Chicago's A-1 Detective Agency, Nate Heller, doesn't care. His job is to protect Long against an assassination attempt. Despite Heller's best efforts, Long is murdered by a lone gunman, Dr. Carl Weiss. A year later, Heller is summoned back to bayou country at the mutual request of Mrs. Long and her husband's life-insurance carrier. She feels the governor may have been accidentally shot by one of his own trigger-happy bodyguards. If so, the insurance company would not be able to claim its homicide exclusion. Both Mrs. Long and the insurers have agreed to abide by Heller's independent investigation. What Heller discovers is a mild-mannered ear, nose, and throat specialist in Dr. Weiss whose family integrity may have been undermined by the ruthless, manipulative Long. Another excellent historical mystery in which Collins provides a plausible "alternative" solution to real-life crime. Highly recommended. Wes Lukowsky
Description:
From Publishers Weekly
This time politics absorbs Chicago series shamus Nate Heller, whose adventures (in Carnal Hours, etc.) place him in the middle of the century's most dramatic crimes. It's 1935, and the dogged, skirt-chasing Nate is working as a bodyguard for populist Louisiana loudmouth and political loose cannon, Senator Huey Long. Long is tough and brash, and his lengthy list of enemies includes former employees, the oil industry and anyone ever subjected to one of the verbal shellackings for which he's famous. Trouble is, when the "Kingfish" is shot, his psychotic henchmen open fire with a vengeance, making it hard to tell exactly where the fatal bullet came from. At the urging of Long's widow, herself aglow with thoughts of double indemnity, Nate matches bullets to guns and guns to trigger fingers, all the while playing house with one of Huey's canny concubines. As always, Collins's sense of place and time is unerringly acute, and he happily indulges in re-creating Long's fiery stump style. Although Collins has carved out a mystery subgenre that he occupies nearly alone, he and his detective would be a tough act to follow even if they did have a serious rival or two.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Some think Louisiana governor Huey Long is akin to Hitler and Mussolini, but others believe he's just a good ol' boy trying to help the common man. The president and sole operative of Chicago's A-1 Detective Agency, Nate Heller, doesn't care. His job is to protect Long against an assassination attempt. Despite Heller's best efforts, Long is murdered by a lone gunman, Dr. Carl Weiss. A year later, Heller is summoned back to bayou country at the mutual request of Mrs. Long and her husband's life-insurance carrier. She feels the governor may have been accidentally shot by one of his own trigger-happy bodyguards. If so, the insurance company would not be able to claim its homicide exclusion. Both Mrs. Long and the insurers have agreed to abide by Heller's independent investigation. What Heller discovers is a mild-mannered ear, nose, and throat specialist in Dr. Weiss whose family integrity may have been undermined by the ruthless, manipulative Long. Another excellent historical mystery in which Collins provides a plausible "alternative" solution to real-life crime. Highly recommended. Wes Lukowsky