Slab Happy

Shell Scott #17

by Richard S. Prather

I was measured for a grave and I was supposed to share it with a gorgeous redhead named Coral. Man, this was just about the first time I haven't been willing to share something with a gorgeous redhead.

Genres: Mystery

191 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Richard Scott Prather was an American mystery novelist, best known for creating the "Shell Scott" series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms David Knight and Douglas Ring.

Prather was born in Santa Ana, California. He served in the United States Merchant Marine during World War II. In 1945 year he married Tina Hager and began working as a civilian chief clerk of surplus property at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California. He left that job to become a full-time writer in 1949. The first Shell Scott mystery, 'Case of the Vanishing Beauty' was published in 1950. It would be the start of a long series that numbered more than three dozen titles featuring the Shell Scott character.

Prather had a disagreement with his publisher in the 1970s and sued them in 1975. He gave up writing for several years and grew avocados. However in 1986 he returned with 'The Amber Effect'. Prather's final book, 'Shellshock', was published in hardcover in 1987 by Tor Books.

At the time of his death in 2007, he had completed his final Shell Scott Mystery novel, 'The Death Gods'. It was published October 2011 by Pendleton Artists.

Prather served twice on the Board of Directors of the Mystery Writers of America. Additionally Prather received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 1986.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover art has nothing to do with the story and really neither does the title. Nevertheless, Slab Happy is a top-notch Shell Scott adventure. Slab Happy is set back in Hollywood (except for a few scenes at a dude ranch in the desert). The female leads have names like Coral James who had strawberry blonde hair and pornographic brown eyes and Suez, a dark-haired beauty. The bad guys have names like Nick Colossus, Viper, and Gangrene.

It all starts with a scene that chronologically should come towards the end of the book, but Prather couldn’t resist starting this yarn with a bang. Scott finds himself in disguise at the funeral of a mafia leader he is believed to have killed and forty of the deceased’s hoodlums, all armed and ready for action. Scott had to get out of there without being recognized and with papers stuffed in the casket under the deceased and do it all before the cremation.

Then suddenly the puzzled reader is flipped back a few days to the beginning of our tale as Scott visits the giant studio lot of Magna Studios to find out its being blackmailed to the tune of a cool million dollars. It doesn’t take long for Scott to figure out that mobsters have got their tentacles all over the studio with their financial backing.

Scott is shot at, set up, beaten by ten hoodlums, disarmed, threatened, and betrayed. There is a back and forth with the hoodlums who have a bone to pick with him. And he races back and forth trying to stay alive and protect those around him.

This is an extremely well-plotted and action-packed story.

[Edwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I somehow ended up with three copies of this book and figured that I ought to read one of them. A Hollywood movie producer hires Shell Scott to investigate a blackmail scheme involving some of his up and coming young stars. Once again Shell digs himself into deeper and deeper trouble this time with competing mobsters out to kill him, a corrupt desert horse ranch resort, and a hot young starlet to bed. All of the Shell Scott books are a wild ride with Shell getting beat up a few times, some cat-and-mouse set pieces, and some outrageous humor and wisecracking. This one plays it pretty straight. Less goofiness and a solid, albeit somewhat convoluted plot. I liked it a lot. Speaking of Hollywood, I’m surprised that there was never a effort to put Shell Scott on the big screen. His character and his antics would have translated well in my opinion. Four stars.

[Bret Minges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slab Happy is an excellent fast paced crime novel by one of the best novelists Richard S. Prather. Prather's private investigator Shell Scott has a similar edge to Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. Both authors were rivals during the 1950's and 1960's. Great paperback cover art by Robert Mcginnis.

[Jiří Pavlovský · Rating 3 out of 5]

Můj pravidelný odpočinek u Richarda S. Prathera. Tenhle díl byl takový normálnější… když nepočítáme únik před padouchy v pohřebním voze (vybaveným i nebožtíkem), nebo finální finta na zločince. Velký důraz tu je na akci (ono pátrání je u Richarda S. obvykle jen tak do počtu – většinou se na začátku objeví nějaký zločinecký boss, během pár stránek se ukáže, že v tom má prsty a jde jen o to, jak mu to dokázat) a na mlácení hrdiny do hlavy. Dokonce tu není ani velký prostor na popisování dívčích vnad – ty jsou tu jen dvě, samozřejmě úžasné, vyvinuté a ochotné s hrdinou flirtovat (přičemž hrdina v té chvíli obvykle ztrácí invenci a IQ). Ale pořád je tu čas na lehký styl, plný ironických hlášek.

„V hotelovém resortu bylo navíc pár super luxusních chatiček přímo u bazénu, určených čistě pro lidi, co na svých ropných plantážích objevili uranium.“

Jako obvykle to začíná hned uprostřed akce – Shell Scott vyráží maskovaný na pohřeb zločineckého bosse, z jehož vraždy je obviněný, jako obvykle mu to zrovna moc nevyjde a končí to tím už zmíněným funerálním úprkem. A pak se vracíme na začátek, kde dostává zakázku od šéfa filmového studia, aby zjistil, kdo se snaží vydírat jeho hvězdy… což není nutné dlouho hledat, protože kolem studia se nemotá jeden padoušský gang, ale hned dva. A oba plné podivných existencí.

„Říkalo, se, že Whitey píchá špendlíky do lidí, aby pak sledoval, co to udělá s jejich voodoo panenkami. Trhal mouchám křidýlka a pak ta křidýlka jedl. Psal sám sobě dopisy neviditelným inkoustem. Doktoři by mu měli dát hlavu do dlahy.“

Tahle knížka patří do autorovy první dvacítky napsaných knih, čili je to ještě v podstatě konzervativní drsná škola a komediální momenty tu stojí spíš jen ve hláškách. Prather se ještě tak neutrhl ze řetězu. Ovšem dohání to akci.

Pořád přemýšlím o tom, co mě na tom tak baví. Možná to, že drsná škola má ve zvyku být melodramatická, sociálně kritická, s cynickým hrdinou – tohle je branné s nadhledem, a Shell Scott je pohodový týpek, co si dokáže užívat nejen krásné ženy, alkohol i peníze, ale i akvarijní rybičky. Sedne mi i to, jak snadno se autor nechá zlákat až někam k bažinám absurdity, když ho napadne něco, co mu přijde zábavné, co by se ještě mohlo hrdinovi vymknout z rukou… přičemž se mu to ale daří udržet mimo hranice ryzí parodie.

A pak jsou tu samozřejmě super obálky od McGinnise, což jsou další body k dobru.

[Ted Barringer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I first discovered Richard S Prather through Hard Case Crime, The Peddler. I love the old pulp stories, I call them Crime Noir, but the Shell Scott series is more Crime Blanc. These are stories written in the late 50's through the 60's. Shell Scott uses terms like "honey" and "doll" for women; describes their "fannies" and "bosoms"; he calls his car a Cad; his gun is a heater or a rod - enough, time has moved on. On the other hand, I have read 14 or 15 of these books, and they do entertain me. Time is suspended, no cell phones, no personal computers, LA is crowded with motels, etc. At a certain point Shell Scott becomes a bit annoying, thus Crime Blanc, but I would still recommend these books for those looking for pulp crime stories of a time forgotten era. BTW, by read I mean listen, there are two narrators as best I can tell, the narrator of the later stories is far better than the original guy.

[Huckleberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up at a used book store. It is the first Richard S. Prather book I have read so therefore I had no background on the Shell Scott series.

This is similar to a Mike Hammer (Mickey Spillane) book with a tough guy and exciting dames described in detail. Only Shell Scott goes through the novel expecting to be killed at every turn whereas Mike Hammer would be angry all the time.

This one starts off very good but the ending left lots to be desired as it got a little to much into the realm of fantasy which is what cost it a few stars in my review. I will look for others in the series.

[Russ Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was a fast-paced roller coaster ride.