Julius Katz and Archie

Julius Katz Detective

by Dave Zeltserman

The award-winning Julius Katz mysteries have delighted thousands of mystery fans since first appearing on the pages of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in 2009, winning a Shamus, Derringer and Ellery Queen’s Readers Choice Award . 'Julius Katz' introduced readers to Boston's most brilliant, eccentric and possibly laziest detective, Julius Katz, as well as his sidekick, Archie, a tiny marvel of whiz-bang computer technology with the heart and soul of a hard-boiled PI.

Now in Julius Katz and Archie’s first full-length mystery, the stakes have never been higher when a famous Boston mystery writer, Kenneth Kingston, tells Julius he wants to find out who’s planning to kill him. The problem is almost everyone in Kingston’s life has good reason to want to kill him, and this case soon plunges Julius and Archie deep into the world of murder and publishing.

PRAISE FOR JULIUS KATZ AND ARCHIE

“Julius Katz may be the titular star of Dave Zeltserman's new novel, but it's the voice of his AI assistant, Archie, that carries the day. Archie's more human than most "real" people, and funnier, too. The satire bites, and the mystery satisfies. Julius and Archie became favorites of mine when they first appeared in Zeltserman's award-winning short stories, and they're even better in novel form. Long may they thrive.” Bill Crider

“Fans of Donna Andrews's Turing Hopper artificial intelligence mysteries, rejoice! Award-winning author Dave Zeltserman has created silicon chip Archie, the high-tech sidekick to Julius Katz, Boston's most famous and laziest wine-drinking detective. Here is a delightful traditional mystery that follows in the footsteps of Dorothy L. Sayers's Lord Peter Wimsey series.” --Naomi Hirahara

“Julius Katz and Archie is a charming and sophisticated drawing room mystery from the pen of the multifaceted Dave Zeltserman. Although the book harks back to the classic whodunits of the Nero Wolfe era, eccentric detective Julius Katz’s sidekick, Archie, is a character straight out of the brilliantly conceived spawn of our digital world. The clever plotting will satisfy mystery aficionados, while long time Zeltserman fans will be pleased to hear that there is a fist of steel lurking under the elegantly tailored velvet glove.” Roger Smith

"It's a nifty change-of-pace for the usually hard-boiled Dave Zeltserman. Clever, sophisticated and witty, 'Julius Katz & Archie' will thrill fans of Nero Wolfe...and readers who never heard of him! Zeltserman knows how to mix character, action, and plot and create a pitch-perfect, modern mystery. More, Sir! The sooner the better." -- Paul Levine

"Julius Katz is not only one of the most popular and award-winning creations in modern mystery fiction, the sheer wit and cunning of Dave Zeltserman's writing takes you into a world as amusing and surprising as the Rex Stout novels that Dave honors with this character." Ed Gorman

"I’ll say no more but rest assured this is another zesty page turner choc full of smart twists, colorful characters and laugh out loud moments. Katz is a great creation and he and Archie, the heart of the book, are a smashing team." Paul Brazill

Dave Zeltserman won the 2010 Shamus Award for 'Julius Katz' and is the acclaimed author of the ‘man out of prison’ crime Small Crimes, Pariah and Killer, where Small Crimes (2008) and Pariah (2009) were both picked by the Washington Post as best books of the year.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

213 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 13, 2011

About the author

Author of the crime noir novel SMALL CRIMES named by NPR as the best crime and mystery novel of 2008, and by the Washington Post as one of the best novels of 2008, and made into a major film (to be released in 2017) starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Molly Parker, Gary Cole, Robert Forster, and Jacki Weaver.

Shamus Award winner for JULIUS KATZ. Ellery Queen's Readers Choice Award winner for ARCHIE'S BEEN FRAMED and ARCHIE SOLVES THE CASE.

PARIAH named by the Washington Post as one of the best books of 2009. THE CARETAKER OF LORNE FIELD (2010) shortlisted by American Library Association for best horror novel of the year and named a horror gem by Library Journal. MONSTER selected by Booklist Magazine for their 2013 list of top 10 horror novels and WBUR for one of the best novels of the year.

OUTSOURCED (2011) and THE CARETAKER OF LORNE FIELD are also currently being developed for film.

Reviews

[Sarah-Grace (Azrael865) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun parody of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe stories. Archie, named for Stout's Archie Goodwin, is Private Detective Julius Katz's assistant. He is also a very small computer A.I. that Julius wears as a tie-pin. I really enjoyed reading all the different shout outs to the original Nero Wolfe. All of our favorite characters make appearances, with slight variations to their names. And although the character names may not have all been original, the mystery is. Julius Katz even solves it in classic Nero Wolfe style. All suspects gathered together with DETECTIVE Cramer and his police standing by to make the arrest as Julius Katz lays out his genius deductions naming the killer and motive with just minutes to spare before his self proclaimed deadline to do so.

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective par excellence (although unwilling) Katz and his electronic asdociate Archie returns in this full-scale novel. An author engages Katz, by paying an outrageous amount of money, for basically a publicity stunt. Then the guy is dead, and Katz was found talking to all the suspects only a few hours later. And then Katz gets shot at!
This was a labyrinthine story with a simple mystery. Katz is brilliant, as usual. But Archie takes up a very large amount of space with his monologues and dialogues (with Katz). If those extra words and repetitive expressions can be avoided or skipped, this novel can be enjoyed as a classic, almost Christie-an mystery.
Recommended.

[Wendy Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few months ago, I reviewed the short story of the Julius Katz novels - which were also printed in the Ellery Queen magazine. Dave has written another story, Julius Katz and Archie, and I couldn't wait to read it!

Julius Katz is a renowned private investigator who has some expensive habits. He only agrees to work when he needs the cash flow for his expensive poker habit or to acquire a rare wine for his cellar. Julius has a partner, Archie. Archie is a very small piece of computer technology that Julius uses as a tie tack. Archie makes all of the appointments, all of the information digging and tries valiantly to solve a case before Julius. To date, he hasn't.

Archie has been trying to figure out who is cheating as the poker tables, as Julius has lost badly the last few times. He really needs to get some funds in as there is a new vintage of wine he wants to acquire. So, when an author whose last four books have not sold well, approaches Julius about taking his case, Archie is skeptical. The author, Kenneth Kingston, asks Julius to find out who is trying to kill him. But upon further discussion, it is revealed that Kenneth doesn't really have any threats to his life, he merely wants the publicity. Julius declines, stating he won't sell his dignity for any price.

But then the next day, Kingston returns with a rare wine that Julius has been trying to acquire for years. He agrees to take the case, much to Archie's dismay. But when Kenneth winds up dead, the investigation heats up as Julius and Archie race to find the killer.

Another superb Julius Katz and Archie mystery! Their are clues revealed through-out for the reader to try and figure out who the killer is, with Archie leading the way. But Julius always does something "off-screen" to trip Archie up. The plot it tight and sound, having this reader guessing the whole way while being thoroughly entertained! Archie is one of the best characters out there in mystery and suspense. Very cleverly written -- I can't wait for the next one!

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Narrated by a futuristic piece of technology in Archie, a pint size super computer, JULIUS KATZ AND ARCHIE is a PI novel with a distinct likeness to the pulp whodunits of yesterday with some modern tech elements. Julius is an eccentric PI who takes cases for the simple purpose of providing himself with gambling money and enough cash to satisfy his lavish lifestyle and taste for fine wines. According to Archie (the space aged tech who gradually assumes a personality and comes off as more human than Julius), Julius is both brilliant and lazy; not without flaws yet effective in solving a case using minimal effort.

In JULIUS KATZ AND ARCHIE, Julius is hired by a struggling author as a promotional stunt where Julius is to determine one of six people suspected of wanting the author dead. When the falsehood of the situation becomes apparent, no sooner does the author wind up dead and the list of suspects actually resembles a true list rather than a marketing ploy.

I found the mystery predictable and guessed the murderer early on despite Zeltserman steering the focus in other directions. The concept was light-hearted and true to form pulp, unfortunately I didn’t find myself caring too much about any of the characters (Julius included) excluding Archie (the most and least human of the bunch) with most of the suspects feeling two dimensional. Despite its flaws, I did enjoy JULIUS KATZ AND ARCHIE, more so for its unique delivery and different approach to the narrative.

[Mxyzptlk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"First of all, Dave Zeltserman's short story double-feature "Julius Katz Mysteries" kick-starts this new series. If you aren't already familiar with Julius and Archie from these two stories originally published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, you will want to start there, and as a bonus you can get them both together for less than a buck. "Julius Katz and Archie" picks right up from where those two stories left off with Julius Katz's first full-length mystery. Certainly if you are a fan of the previous, you will not be disappointed here. The series also owes heavily to the classic Nero Wolfe detective stories. I have to admit I'm not familiar with these, but after reading Julius Katz, as well as Anthony Neil Smith's similarly inspired "Choke on Your Lies," this is something I plan to correct. Needless to say I was able to enjoy these despite my ignorance. One thing I am sure sets Zeltserman's series apart is one very unique twist. The stories are told from Archie the side-kick's perspective. What is brilliant here is that Archie is not just any side-kick, but a super intelligent Artificial Intelligence unit which Julius keeps discreetly clipped to his tie. You really have to read these stories to believe it, but once you do you I promise you will be hooked!" (My Amazon review.)

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters in this book are so stereotypical that it comes
across as satire, in addition to being a cracking good mystery.
The main character, P.I. Julius Katz, is definitely in the Nero Wolfe vein, other than not being portrayed as fat. The characters even include the stereotypical pudgy and curmudgeonly police detective who despises, but needs, the P.I.

His 'leg man,' Archie is a takeoff of Wolfe's Archie, with one important difference. Archie in the book is a computer that is so sophisticated 'he' learns through his neural network, and monitors the world via webcams and digital recorder feeds. Archie can also hack into any information base in the world, so the flow of virtual information coming to Julius through Archie is unlimited.

It's an interesting device that keeps this lighthearted mystery fresh, but the mystery itself is good, too. This is not the first in the series, and I think I would like to go back and read from the beginning. It might lose something now, though.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this full length novel after reading the short stories

I absolutely loved the book and was sorry when it ended. Even sorrier that there isn’t another one. I initially wondered about the full length novel vs the previous short stories but it was excellently done. The suspense was maintained all the way through and while I did figure out who the killer was before the end I really enjoyed the reveal and the reasoning.

The sub-plot re the poker game didn’t seem to tie in or be necessary and I was thinking it was setting the stage for the next book but based on this book’s copyright date and the lack of another novel I’m not sure why it was included.

Highly recommend.

[Colin Devonshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just loved Archie!

[Mary Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! Love the character , Archie. I purchased the audio book. Nick Hahn gave these characters personality and dimension. Kudos.

[Alison C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julius Katz is a celebrated private detective in Boston; his right-hand “man,” Archie, is a small piece of extremely high-tech software worn as a tie clip and capable of more than any current computer can do. When an obnoxious writer asks Julius to participate in what is essentially a publicity stunt, one that will humiliate Julius, he is of course not inclined to agree, although when the fee offered is increased and includes a rare bottle of wine that Julius covets, he chooses to accept. It is, of course, not long before the writer is murdered, and Archie works hard to solve the murder before Julius does, even though he is lacking an essential part of Julius’s make-up: genius….I have read numerous short stories in the Julius Katz and Archie series, but this is the first novel (published in 2011) that I’ve come across. I’m pleased to say that the premise holds up at novel length as well as it does in shorter forms. This funny and fun series is especially entertaining if you are familiar with Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe, of which this is quite a parody, but even if you don’t know those books, there is still a great deal to enjoy here, from Archie’s rather sarcastic narration to Julius’s extreme avoidance of anything resembling actual work, to the buffoonery of the police; recommended!

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an homage to classic mysteries, with a brilliant, puzzle-solving sleuth- Julius Katz- who is full of quirky and expensive habits. We also have an erstwhile and skeptical assistant, hostile police, pushy reporters, and a killer who wants to end the famed crime-solver. Fans of Nero Wolfe will be especially happy to see an assistant named Archie. Though not human, the narrator (and powerful) Archie is quite the foil to Katz's odd habits and methods of problem-solving, and even acts as the conscience of Katz, much like Jiminy Cricket. With the added benefit he can be turned off when he gets too annoying. But despite his vast resources, he cannot solve the crime the way Katz can, showing that the power of the human mind is supreme.
We get the traditional "get the suspects in a room to go through the crime and their possible involvement" scenario. The high-living Katz navigates with style through possible motives and weak alibis to tease out the killer. Eminently satisfying and comfortable.

[JoeK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always enjoyed the short Nero Wolfe pastiches that Zeltserman did for Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. Unfortunately, the Julius Katz and Archie stories don't translate as well to longer word-counts. While I enjoyed the book well-enough, it did drag a bit, and as many have pointed out, the poker-game side story wasn't terribly germane to the book. It would have been more interesting if two mysteries were being investigated at the same time, or more was learned about Desmond Gushnier.
As I must have observed on other occasions, Archie Smith is more sarcastic than clever, so he will always be second place behind Archie Goodwin. I'll continue to read these stories/books because I enjoy them. My hope it that they'll continue to improve.

As a side-note, this seems to be only the third appearance of Julius and Archie. I had already read quite a few of the short stories, probably 9 or 10, before I discovered this novel.

[Joe McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable, but the editing is a little uneven -- multiple mentions of a previous case (the one where Archie ends up accused of murder), and a couple things that should have been caught ("he smiled widely enough to show his incisors": given that those are his middle front teeth, that's not necessarily a very wide smile! Maybe this should have been his canines?)


Anyway, this is quibbling. The book is a lot of fun, and I really am looking forward to more from the author. I'm upgrading to 5 stars because I really want to see more in this series. Lots of great references to the original series, and Julius is in his own way as quirky and interesting as Wolfe -- and the new Archie is a treasure.

So much great potential here! (Wondering if Julius's nemesis is another AI!)

[Steve Edelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

COLUMBO & AGATHA CHRISTIE = JULIUS KATZ & ARCHIE

This was my first ‘Whodunnit’ by Dave Zeltserman and a very auspicious beginning it was. Julius Katz is a quirky Bostonian P.I.
who loves gourmet foods, the finest of wines, and gorgeous women (although not since his recent marriage).

Julius’ investigative skills would make Sherlock Holmes quit the business. Along with his sleuthing partner, Archie, our cerebral hero seems to relish the mental aspects of crime detection.

I thoroughly enjoyed “Julius Katz And Archie” And highly recommend this book.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling Murder Mystery with Action

Julius Katz and Archie are an amazing team of man and AI. I was intrigued by their mutual respect for each other and their ability to get people to act or react without them knowing they were being coerced to do so in a telling manner. I laughed uncontrollably at times and gasped at other outrageous and cunning moments. Their intelligent prowess was mind-blowing. I was thoroughly entertained throughout this entire book. This book was action packed and thrilling to read. It will be enthralling for men, women or younger audiences.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think Nero Wolfe in present day

If you are familiar with Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe mysteries you will see the homage paid in this story. Nero Wolfe is mentioned as the source of Archie's name but several other characters bear striking resemblances, and names, to Stout's cast. Although not quite at the same level as those other books, this is a very good mystery that should amuse you and keep you guessing, if not for the identity of the killer, at least for the motive.

[Sharon Bandhold · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Better Than Sex Story!

This is the 1st of Mr. Z's books I've read. Skeptical as I was that I could accept the anthropomorphized character of Archie, I suspended my disbelief & was amply rewarded for it. So insightful is the author in human behavior that I thought he must've been a practicing psychoanalyst as well as a software engineer. Excellent, taut writing! Whodunit? I was strongly blindsided!!

[Fred Mench · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lupine vs feline

The Nero Wolfe/Julius Katz angle is interesting and well done, but replacing Archie Goodwin with a very different (though comparable) Archie is just plain fun to watch. If you don’t recognize the names of the minor characters, like Saul Penzler, then you haven’t read Rex Stout, so you will miss some of the in-jokes, but that won’t ruin the story for you.

Since Rex Stout is dead, try this series.

[Sabrina Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting mystery

Set up like a Nero Wolf mystery, the characters are all somewhat recognizable. One innovation is the artificial intelligence named Archie, who is trying to figure out how Julius, the detective, figures out who is guilty. His narration and suppositions are the parts I most enjoyed in this book.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Archie please

Archie’s quest to match or beat the subtlety of his human’s mind and solve the case makes for an interesting read. Seeing the case build from the point of view of the A.I. who was not party to huge amounts of data left me feeling frustrated for poor Archie. I hope future novels give Archie a chance to reach his goals.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such Fun! The mystery was good, the premise was unusual, the characters, especially Julius, Archie, & the policeman, were great. Lots of twists & turns. I must admit, I suspected the killer well before the end, but that didn't ruin the read, because I wasn't sure until I saw it in print. Fantastic read!

[Jeff Cochrane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shades of Nero Wolfe

I have read the short stories about Julius and Archie in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and totally enjoyed them. Finding a novel about them was an added bonus. Good characters. Good plot. Enough misdirection trying to guess the bad guy. A well written fun read. Recommended.

[Paul J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imaginative and delightful PI story. Must Read

I read a lot of stories. I read a lot of PI stories. Very seldom do I not know " who dun it" in the first few chapters. Not So with tjis book. This is a delightful use of a character to twist and distract the reader. Beside the PI genre it has a nice slot in SciFi or speculative future fiction.

[Stuart Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Very well written. Only 2 grammatical errors I found.
I will read all of this series just to see how Archie progresses.
Julius is quite interesting and I'm curious to see how Lily gets involved. Hmmmm!

[JanÃÂ Klos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archie is Unique

Archie and Julius make a great detective team. Julius doesn’t want to take a case involving a fake death threat, but his mind is changed by later events. Julius builds the case slowly and carefully until the final reveal, which will probably surprise you.

[Patricia Hans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining new detective

Although bold references to Nero Wolfe abound, a well written, entertaining novel with an unusual sidekick twist. A fun read.

[Elizabeth Bailes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had me guessing all the way

When an author completely stumps me I enjoy the read immensely. Good book! Rex Stout was great! This author awesome!

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

STOUT REBORN

This books storyline is a reincarnation of a Nero Wolf novel. It is very well done and held my interest until tbe end.

[Bubbles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise and a nice bit of humor tossed in but I ran out of enthusiasm well before I reached the end of the book. Nice try though!

[Kelly]

Review

Book was found to be not only a learning experience but a not to read. Series will be not only an intriguing past time but a relaxing read. Recommend this series