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Harry Lipkin, Private Eye
Meet Harry Lipkin, the world's oldest private part Sam Spade, part Woody Allen, all mensch .
Harry Lipkin is a tough-talking, soft-chewing, rough-around-the-edges, slow-around-the-corners private investigator who carries a .38 along with a spare set of dentures. Harry specializes in the sort of cases that cops can't be bothered with, but knows where to find good chopped liver for a fair price. He might not be the best P.I. in Miami, but at 87, he's certainly the oldest.
His latest client, Mrs. Norma Weinberger, has a problem. Someone in her home is stealing sentimental trinkets and the occasional priceless jewel from her; someone she employs, trusts, cares for, and treats like family. With the stakes so low and blood pressure that's a little too high, Harry Lipkin must figure out whodunit before the thief strikes again.
Sure to appeal to fans of Alexander McCall Smith, Harry Lipkin, Private Eye is sharp, funny and irresistible.
Harry Lipkin is a tough-talking, soft-chewing, rough-around-the-edges, slow-around-the-corners private investigator who carries a .38 along with a spare set of dentures. Harry specializes in the sort of cases that cops can't be bothered with, but knows where to find good chopped liver for a fair price. He might not be the best P.I. in Miami, but at 87, he's certainly the oldest.
His latest client, Mrs. Norma Weinberger, has a problem. Someone in her home is stealing sentimental trinkets and the occasional priceless jewel from her; someone she employs, trusts, cares for, and treats like family. With the stakes so low and blood pressure that's a little too high, Harry Lipkin must figure out whodunit before the thief strikes again.
Sure to appeal to fans of Alexander McCall Smith, Harry Lipkin, Private Eye is sharp, funny and irresistible.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
17 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Barry Fantoni
42 books8 followersBarry Ernest Fantoni was a British author, cartoonist and jazz musician, most famous for his work with the magazine Private Eye, for whom he also created Neasden F.C. He had also published books on Chinese astrology as well as a mystery novel set in Miami featuring 87-year-old private investigator Harry Lipkin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
June 9, 2020
Tough talking, gun wielding, poker face, well experienced private investigator Harry Lipkin… oh, and he's 87 years old! Could be better; saved by some very funny moments. 5 out of 12.
February 28, 2025
What sounded like a good premise was so unbelievably lame it was hard to believe an editor didnt give it back to Mr Fantoni for more work. The content was scant with almost every 2-3 page chapter preceded with a blank page and all with a title page telling you exactly what was going to happen - Harry meets Mrs Baloney etc, along with a pretty ordinary pencil drawing. Meaning in a 200 page novel with 40 chapters, there wasnt a lot of content.
The plot was the worst aspect - what PLOT? Rich old lady thinks one of her staff is stealing from her, they are all honest hard working migrants, rich old lady is the culprit! We knew almost immediately but poor old Harry the 'detective' didnt know till the end. Which means as a detective he is pretty crap. After all the simplistic chapters, with no twists or turns, Harry still gets it wrong. And we are supposed to think he has survived in business as a PI for sixty years. Don't get me wrong, I liked Harry, but his story was badly told. Mebe my 88 year old Mom will like it.
The plot was the worst aspect - what PLOT? Rich old lady thinks one of her staff is stealing from her, they are all honest hard working migrants, rich old lady is the culprit! We knew almost immediately but poor old Harry the 'detective' didnt know till the end. Which means as a detective he is pretty crap. After all the simplistic chapters, with no twists or turns, Harry still gets it wrong. And we are supposed to think he has survived in business as a PI for sixty years. Don't get me wrong, I liked Harry, but his story was badly told. Mebe my 88 year old Mom will like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2020
What's not to like about this book? Plenty. It's so obvious from the very beginning of the story Who actually Done It that the only big mystery here is why the author even bothered to write this book at all. If any reader can detect that, the next mystery to solve is what this author thought he would accomplish by presuming to make his detective Jewish.
Jews are called “People of the Book” in part because they tend to read lots and lots of books. Most Jews who read English live in the U.S. and probably have been to or have friends or relations who live in or have been to Florida. Furthermore, good readers of detective fiction tend to pay careful attention to details when they read. Many Jews read detective fiction, and many readers of detective fiction are Jewish. Fantoni has supposedly been writing detective fiction for decades, and perhaps he knew all this when he wrote Harry Lipkin, Private Eye, so one can only wonder at his writing this book when he has such a poor grasp of the subject. One need not be an elderly Jew living in Florida to see glaring mistakes Even people who have never been to Florida can notice that the author got many little details wrong.
How could Barry Fantoni have imagined readers intimately acquainted with the subject would take to this book, which has all the authenticity of a thirteen dollar bill? Or as a British author who can't be bothered to learn anything about the United States might phrase it, a thirteen dollar note. That, and all the Yiddish flavor of a pastrami sandwich on white bread with Velveeta and mayonnaise.
Has Fantoni ever even visited the U.S.? One wishes he had written about a detective from his own country, or at the very least not attempted to tell an American detective's story from a first person point of view, because he clearly knows very little about how Americans talk. Americans don't walk down long "passages," and a "left lane" is not something one takes at a fork in the road (p. 39). Perhaps Fantoni called someone's footwear "trainers" (p. 58) because he was truly unaware that Americans call them tennis shoes, running shoes, athletic shoes, or sneakers, but anyone who wants to write for an American audience should learn such things. Furthermore, Americans don't put "varnish" on their feet, either (p. 84).
In fairness, Fantoni did enough research, albeit barely, to uncover the fact that the old U.S. Route 41, which begins in Miami, ends somewhere in Michigan. Unfortunately, we know this because he claims on page 141 that the highway is strung with thousands of hotels that fizzle out in Michigan. What could possibly possess an author to assert a secondary road through underpopulated areas is strung with thousands of hotels? Did it never occur to Fantoni that some American readers might actually be familiar with U.S. Route 41? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Route_41 Having driven on 41 in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Kentucky, I can assure Fantoni that if it has any hotels at all, they fizzle out long before Michigan, more likely before the Florida Everglades.
Unfortunately, Fantoni didn't stop at the botched depiction of America and Americans, but he would go after American Jews as well. The occasional reference to matzah balls or bar mitzvahs won't placate a serious Jewish detective fiction reader or distract him from multiple glaring errors. One might have hoped, briefly, that the author meant the discussion about the number and frequency of Jewish holidays (p. 146) as irony, to demonstrate Harry Lipkin's declining cognitive powers. Unfortunately, though, Mr. Lee, seemingly a knowledgable person, also makes an incorrect statement on the subject.
The only Jews to ever use the name "Jehovah" (p. 122) were characters in a 1979 Monty Python film.
What's with American Jews saying "THE Beth Jacob" (p. 104)? Who puts a definite article in the name of a synagogue? We may go to "The Hospital" in this country when we have heart attacks, but even then, we will call it St. Luke's or Mount Sinai or Kaiser, not The St. Luke's or The Mount Sinai or The Kaiser.
And why on Earth would Fantoni try writing dialog in a language he doesn't even know well enough to distinguish between the infinitive form of a verb and its second person conjugation? (p. 85)
Such carelessness might be forgiven in a detective story with a compelling, inventive plot and some memorable, well-developed characters. When paired with a weak story line and flat, stereotyped characters, it only insults a reader's intelligence. I agree with the person who thinks the editor should have given it back for more work, at the very least. My friend who actually lived in Florida for some years took a much less charitable view of Harry Lipkin, Private Eye than I.
Jews are called “People of the Book” in part because they tend to read lots and lots of books. Most Jews who read English live in the U.S. and probably have been to or have friends or relations who live in or have been to Florida. Furthermore, good readers of detective fiction tend to pay careful attention to details when they read. Many Jews read detective fiction, and many readers of detective fiction are Jewish. Fantoni has supposedly been writing detective fiction for decades, and perhaps he knew all this when he wrote Harry Lipkin, Private Eye, so one can only wonder at his writing this book when he has such a poor grasp of the subject. One need not be an elderly Jew living in Florida to see glaring mistakes Even people who have never been to Florida can notice that the author got many little details wrong.
How could Barry Fantoni have imagined readers intimately acquainted with the subject would take to this book, which has all the authenticity of a thirteen dollar bill? Or as a British author who can't be bothered to learn anything about the United States might phrase it, a thirteen dollar note. That, and all the Yiddish flavor of a pastrami sandwich on white bread with Velveeta and mayonnaise.
Has Fantoni ever even visited the U.S.? One wishes he had written about a detective from his own country, or at the very least not attempted to tell an American detective's story from a first person point of view, because he clearly knows very little about how Americans talk. Americans don't walk down long "passages," and a "left lane" is not something one takes at a fork in the road (p. 39). Perhaps Fantoni called someone's footwear "trainers" (p. 58) because he was truly unaware that Americans call them tennis shoes, running shoes, athletic shoes, or sneakers, but anyone who wants to write for an American audience should learn such things. Furthermore, Americans don't put "varnish" on their feet, either (p. 84).
In fairness, Fantoni did enough research, albeit barely, to uncover the fact that the old U.S. Route 41, which begins in Miami, ends somewhere in Michigan. Unfortunately, we know this because he claims on page 141 that the highway is strung with thousands of hotels that fizzle out in Michigan. What could possibly possess an author to assert a secondary road through underpopulated areas is strung with thousands of hotels? Did it never occur to Fantoni that some American readers might actually be familiar with U.S. Route 41? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Route_41 Having driven on 41 in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Kentucky, I can assure Fantoni that if it has any hotels at all, they fizzle out long before Michigan, more likely before the Florida Everglades.
Unfortunately, Fantoni didn't stop at the botched depiction of America and Americans, but he would go after American Jews as well. The occasional reference to matzah balls or bar mitzvahs won't placate a serious Jewish detective fiction reader or distract him from multiple glaring errors. One might have hoped, briefly, that the author meant the discussion about the number and frequency of Jewish holidays (p. 146) as irony, to demonstrate Harry Lipkin's declining cognitive powers. Unfortunately, though, Mr. Lee, seemingly a knowledgable person, also makes an incorrect statement on the subject.
The only Jews to ever use the name "Jehovah" (p. 122) were characters in a 1979 Monty Python film.
What's with American Jews saying "THE Beth Jacob" (p. 104)? Who puts a definite article in the name of a synagogue? We may go to "The Hospital" in this country when we have heart attacks, but even then, we will call it St. Luke's or Mount Sinai or Kaiser, not The St. Luke's or The Mount Sinai or The Kaiser.
And why on Earth would Fantoni try writing dialog in a language he doesn't even know well enough to distinguish between the infinitive form of a verb and its second person conjugation? (p. 85)
Such carelessness might be forgiven in a detective story with a compelling, inventive plot and some memorable, well-developed characters. When paired with a weak story line and flat, stereotyped characters, it only insults a reader's intelligence. I agree with the person who thinks the editor should have given it back for more work, at the very least. My friend who actually lived in Florida for some years took a much less charitable view of Harry Lipkin, Private Eye than I.
June 18, 2012
Across the spectrum of police/private eye investigators it is possible to see relationships, common characteristics. Alcoholism, an unhappy marriage/divorce, unsuitable partnerships, jealous rivals, bullying superiors. Most suffer from some of these in varying combinations.
Barry Fantoni's Harry Lipkin is different. The spare set of dentures in the drawer with his gun is a clue. He is eight-seven going on eighty-eight. His police career is in the long forgotten past. As is his brief marriage. Nowadays he sweeps up the crumbs left behind while the police chase the serious criminals. Oh, and Harry is Jewish. And very funny. Imagine Marlowe sixty years older, the wisecracks given a Yiddish flavour, and you begin to see Harry Lipkin.
In this first fictional appearance, Harry is hired by a wealthy woman in Miami to investigate a series of thefts. There are only five suspects. Harry struggles to identify the guilty party. To reveal more would be unfair.
This is a book that could be devoured in a day beside the pool and, once word gets around, it undoubtedly will be. If the sunbed next to yours is trembling with half-subdued mirth, the chances are Harry Lipkin is to blame.
Barry Fantoni's Harry Lipkin is different. The spare set of dentures in the drawer with his gun is a clue. He is eight-seven going on eighty-eight. His police career is in the long forgotten past. As is his brief marriage. Nowadays he sweeps up the crumbs left behind while the police chase the serious criminals. Oh, and Harry is Jewish. And very funny. Imagine Marlowe sixty years older, the wisecracks given a Yiddish flavour, and you begin to see Harry Lipkin.
In this first fictional appearance, Harry is hired by a wealthy woman in Miami to investigate a series of thefts. There are only five suspects. Harry struggles to identify the guilty party. To reveal more would be unfair.
This is a book that could be devoured in a day beside the pool and, once word gets around, it undoubtedly will be. If the sunbed next to yours is trembling with half-subdued mirth, the chances are Harry Lipkin is to blame.
October 24, 2014
A fast, easy read. Short sentences, short chapters, short on content. The basic premise sounds very 1970s TV series...an aged PI knows that if he hangs up his pistol and licence he will have nothing to keep him interested in life. As a narrator, Harry expresses himself in telegraphically short sentences, or fragments thereof. He takes a case for a wealthy widow who is convinced her house staff are stealing from her. He spends the whole book chasing up the staff's histories, habits etc...but it all comes out very superficial. There's one surprising moment that's rather Carl Hiassen, but aside from that it's pretty dull. Even that surprise event peters out, with almost no repercussions. You know what Harry does? He drives around. A lot. Yeah, I grew up in the US, I know things are a lot farther apart there than they are here in Europe, but gee, how excited can we get about Harry's arthritic "toe" pressing down the accelerator? And yet we are treated to this fascinating tidbit several times in the narration. Yawn.
Another niggle is the chapter titles, that basically tell you in one line what's about to happen, rather like scene directions for that TV series. If there hadn't been quite so many chapter divisions, it might not have been so bad; as it was, I found them annoying and unnecessary, reminding me of the instructions I received once from a preacher: "Tell em what you're gonna tell em, then tell em, and then tell em what you told em."
To top it off, the wrap was a total letdown. Yes, it was "believable" within the context of the "story" (inverted commas intentional) but my reaction was basically, "I read this whole thing for that?"
Meh.
The lack of sex and overt violence is what gained this harmless tec tale its second star. Your aged grandma could read it without turning a hair. It'd probably help her fall asleep. The blurb above says this book is "sharp" and "funny." I noticed neither attribute. If that's what the humour in Private Eye is like, I'll pass.
Another niggle is the chapter titles, that basically tell you in one line what's about to happen, rather like scene directions for that TV series. If there hadn't been quite so many chapter divisions, it might not have been so bad; as it was, I found them annoying and unnecessary, reminding me of the instructions I received once from a preacher: "Tell em what you're gonna tell em, then tell em, and then tell em what you told em."
To top it off, the wrap was a total letdown. Yes, it was "believable" within the context of the "story" (inverted commas intentional) but my reaction was basically, "I read this whole thing for that?"
Meh.
The lack of sex and overt violence is what gained this harmless tec tale its second star. Your aged grandma could read it without turning a hair. It'd probably help her fall asleep. The blurb above says this book is "sharp" and "funny." I noticed neither attribute. If that's what the humour in Private Eye is like, I'll pass.
December 29, 2012
This is the second book I've read this year featuring an octogenarian Jewish detective (see also Don't Ever Get Old), and unfortunately, it's the far lesser of the two. The concept of a widowed South Florida retiree plying his trade as private dick isn't a bad one, but the execution is very weak. Simply put, the book fails to deliver is a compelling mystery to solve. The titular Harry just barely has his private eye shingle up at the house that's decaying all around him. One day an ultra-wealthy widow hires him to investigate a string of petty thefts occurring at her mansion. What follows is a something that I supposed is meant to be a homage to a Golden Age mystery, as Harry methodically investigates all the staff: the chauffeur, the Hispanic maid, the Asian butler, the Ethiopian cook, the stoner groundskeeper, etc. However, this never rises in complexity beyond the level of a game of Clue, and in what is an exceedingly rare instance, I correctly guessed the obvious solution very early on -- and it's not a very interesting one. All in all, it's a very slight book, so slight that I can't even recommend it as a light beach read.
December 28, 2019
Fantoni clearly spent a lot of time watching and listening to Dragnet on TV and radio.
This book was... disappointing. Some of the other reviews have pointed out the relationship between Jewish people and reading, often reading mystery novels. This was a strangely quiet piece, despite a surprise death, with an unexpected but ultimately disappointing ending. I never felt there was enough foreshadowing to get me from point A to point B. From afar, I do enjoy the concept but upon reading I didn't feel it quite hit on the mark.
Additionally, perhaps this is because I'm of a different generation than Fantoni, but I felt like there was quite a bit of internalized anti-Semitism churned out in this story in the guise of some (somewhat poorly executed) Jewish jokes. But maybe that's just me.
I DO appreciate the nuanced relationship he nodded to in regards to Murder, Inc however.
My father is also a big mystery lover, so I think I'll see what he has to say about this book too.
This book was... disappointing. Some of the other reviews have pointed out the relationship between Jewish people and reading, often reading mystery novels. This was a strangely quiet piece, despite a surprise death, with an unexpected but ultimately disappointing ending. I never felt there was enough foreshadowing to get me from point A to point B. From afar, I do enjoy the concept but upon reading I didn't feel it quite hit on the mark.
Additionally, perhaps this is because I'm of a different generation than Fantoni, but I felt like there was quite a bit of internalized anti-Semitism churned out in this story in the guise of some (somewhat poorly executed) Jewish jokes. But maybe that's just me.
I DO appreciate the nuanced relationship he nodded to in regards to Murder, Inc however.
My father is also a big mystery lover, so I think I'll see what he has to say about this book too.
April 26, 2012
A cute, clean mystery. Harry Lipkin is 87 and he is hired by a rich old lady who wants to know which member of her staff is taking her stuff.
October 29, 2017
finished this in the tree stand, 'bout ten minutes after five this early evening, dark now couple hours later. three stars. i liked it. kindle, library loaner. curious enough to try another, see what old harry is up to and then some. one reader was disgruntled that thousands of hotels are described on u.s. 41. sheesh. hyperbole? exaggeration? over-statement? there is one 'cliff' overlooking the ocean...this, somewhere near miami...and okay, there i'd say whud? lived florida, north...i think everything south of say ocala is flat and a few feet above water...prolly no cliffs. poetic license maybe. it's fiction. a story. worth a read. onward and upward.
August 28, 2025
There's a lot to like about this one. Great main character, wonderfully drawn. Intriguing step-by-step investigation of a mystery. But the ending let me down. I was expecting a surprising twist of some kind, and although it was a slight twist it wasn't a surprise (I kind of suspected it from the beginning).
March 5, 2021
Jewish words, humour, very light/pleasant/quick read.
February 26, 2017
A breezy story with too many details that didn't matter and too many old people remarks.
May 16, 2016
The novel “Harry Lipkin-Private Eye” written by Barry Fantoni illustrates the triumphs of a private detective. Well, not your ordinary detective. Investigator Harry Lipkin is an astounding eighty-seven years old! The novel encloses Lipkin’s newest case, the burglary of priceless items from a wealthy widow, Mrs. Norma Weinburger. The suspects include the maid, butler, chauffeur, chef, and gardener. The text utilized by the author throughout the novel is precisely used to reach the intended audience, which is younger adults. The dialect of the text is moderately advanced; neither too easy to read nor too difficult.
The main conflict within the novel is the investigation of the burglary itself. All of the suspects within the investigation have certain characteristics and features about them that make them seem quite suspicious. Lipkin in turn stays within the Weinburger household, where the burglaries have been taking place. The peculiar aspect about the items stolen are that they are especially sentimental items to Norma Weinburger, such as her handheld mirror. I agree with the characters role placement and sequence of the novel. The author most likely researched key points in Sherlock Holmes and the novel Clue to further intensify the writing.
The character development and tone utilized by the author truly intensify the novel even more. Both of the following details worked for me while reading the book. Compared to other novels in this genre, I believe the specific character development is unparalleled. Mystery and Action subjects tend to rely more on details regarded to the action itself than character development. The author does a spectacular job in truly making the reader understand the role and life a private detective. The role isn’t glorified with action and fighting montages, but instead realistic details of the daily life of a private investigator. The book didn’t however appeal to me in an emotional or logical way. I do not believe this was the authors intended purpose when writing this novel.
The publisher of the novel is Anchor Books and the novel costs $15.95 for purchase. The novel was written 2012. The ISBN is: 978-0-307-95046-8.
The main conflict within the novel is the investigation of the burglary itself. All of the suspects within the investigation have certain characteristics and features about them that make them seem quite suspicious. Lipkin in turn stays within the Weinburger household, where the burglaries have been taking place. The peculiar aspect about the items stolen are that they are especially sentimental items to Norma Weinburger, such as her handheld mirror. I agree with the characters role placement and sequence of the novel. The author most likely researched key points in Sherlock Holmes and the novel Clue to further intensify the writing.
The character development and tone utilized by the author truly intensify the novel even more. Both of the following details worked for me while reading the book. Compared to other novels in this genre, I believe the specific character development is unparalleled. Mystery and Action subjects tend to rely more on details regarded to the action itself than character development. The author does a spectacular job in truly making the reader understand the role and life a private detective. The role isn’t glorified with action and fighting montages, but instead realistic details of the daily life of a private investigator. The book didn’t however appeal to me in an emotional or logical way. I do not believe this was the authors intended purpose when writing this novel.
The publisher of the novel is Anchor Books and the novel costs $15.95 for purchase. The novel was written 2012. The ISBN is: 978-0-307-95046-8.
September 29, 2015
The book is called Harry Lipkin Private Eye and it is by Barry Fantoni. The genre of the book is mystery and suspense. The book is about an 87-year-old man named Harry Lipkin who is a private eye. He is trying to figure out who is stealing Mrs. Weinberger's belongings because it is his job and she needs his help. The first thing she noticed was missing was a pillbox given to her by her husband, who died on July 20th. His suspects are living in the house of Mrs. Weinberger, and he believes it was them because they have the best access to her belongings.
One thing I liked about the book was the big twist in the end. I love how mysteries try to make the "culprit" seem so obvious, but you soon find out that the culprit was someone you would've never suspected. I also liked how the book gave you some information on things that you didn't really need to know, because it didn't make you bored of the same topic. It helps you to make inferences about who else could've been the culprit. I however did not like how the author took a little too long to simply explain one topic. I like mystery endings with big twists, even though they throw everything you thought you figured out about the culprit down the drain. They always leave you with a “What?”. I don’t think the ending was too long; it gave the reader enough time to process everything the author was telling you. I think anybody who enjoys surprises and suspense will enjoy this book. If you are a person who is usually anxious to find out what happens next in everyday life, you will like this book. Anybody can enjoy a good old mystery.
One thing I liked about the book was the big twist in the end. I love how mysteries try to make the "culprit" seem so obvious, but you soon find out that the culprit was someone you would've never suspected. I also liked how the book gave you some information on things that you didn't really need to know, because it didn't make you bored of the same topic. It helps you to make inferences about who else could've been the culprit. I however did not like how the author took a little too long to simply explain one topic. I like mystery endings with big twists, even though they throw everything you thought you figured out about the culprit down the drain. They always leave you with a “What?”. I don’t think the ending was too long; it gave the reader enough time to process everything the author was telling you. I think anybody who enjoys surprises and suspense will enjoy this book. If you are a person who is usually anxious to find out what happens next in everyday life, you will like this book. Anybody can enjoy a good old mystery.
March 26, 2013
Harry Lipkin has been a private detective in Miami for a long time. He spent a few years as a cop early in his career but for the last 50 yeas or so he has been out on his own. Harry is 87 and he's slowing down a bit, but he's still got cases.
"These days I deal mostly with the sort of cases the cops don't want. Cops want serial homicide. It makes them feel good when they catch someone. But how tough is it to catch a serial killer? You put his picture on TV Nationwide. You wait. Ten days later a schoolteacher on her lunch break spots him. He's walking out of a Baskin Robbins in a hick town somewhere in Montana. That's him. The guy whose picture was on TV. Before you know it he's surrounded by a million armed cops telling him to drop everything and freeze. And then they shoot him. Ninety-one cents' worth of vanilla, banana, and pistachio ice cream wasted."
As Harry says, he may not be the best in Miami, but he's sure the oldest. In this short mystery by former writer for Private Eye, Barry Fantoni, Larry tells us about his most recent case. . . .
To read the rest of my review, go to my blog at:
http://maryslibrary.typepad.com/my_we...
"These days I deal mostly with the sort of cases the cops don't want. Cops want serial homicide. It makes them feel good when they catch someone. But how tough is it to catch a serial killer? You put his picture on TV Nationwide. You wait. Ten days later a schoolteacher on her lunch break spots him. He's walking out of a Baskin Robbins in a hick town somewhere in Montana. That's him. The guy whose picture was on TV. Before you know it he's surrounded by a million armed cops telling him to drop everything and freeze. And then they shoot him. Ninety-one cents' worth of vanilla, banana, and pistachio ice cream wasted."
As Harry says, he may not be the best in Miami, but he's sure the oldest. In this short mystery by former writer for Private Eye, Barry Fantoni, Larry tells us about his most recent case. . . .
To read the rest of my review, go to my blog at:
http://maryslibrary.typepad.com/my_we...
May 29, 2012
A bound galley edition.
When you have an 87 year old Jewish detective with diverticulitis in Warmheart, Florida, who keeps his .38 along side his dentures in his desk drawer, what's not to love?
This page turner begins with Mrs. Weinberger hiring Harry Lipkin after an inexpensive but nostalgic gift is stolen from her home. With a handful of employees at her residence, each with their motives and opportunities, items continue to disappear before Harry can zero in on a suspect and gather the evidence he needs to support the "whodunit" theory.
Barry Fantoni is a clever, witty author making this light hearted novel of 208 pages a worthwhile read. Look forward to his next novel. Don't miss out on this one.
When you have an 87 year old Jewish detective with diverticulitis in Warmheart, Florida, who keeps his .38 along side his dentures in his desk drawer, what's not to love?
This page turner begins with Mrs. Weinberger hiring Harry Lipkin after an inexpensive but nostalgic gift is stolen from her home. With a handful of employees at her residence, each with their motives and opportunities, items continue to disappear before Harry can zero in on a suspect and gather the evidence he needs to support the "whodunit" theory.
Barry Fantoni is a clever, witty author making this light hearted novel of 208 pages a worthwhile read. Look forward to his next novel. Don't miss out on this one.
August 3, 2012
Book Review & Giveaway:When I read the publisher’s description for Harry Lipkin Private Eye by Barry Fantoni, I started chuckling at the mental image I got. I immediately knew I wanted to read it. Like detective stories and/or mysteries? Well, this one is going to be a bit different from most of the ones you’ve read in the past. As a popular poster says, “Growing old is not for sissies.” If any book can help you appreciate that, it’s this one. I was delighted when I won Harry Lipkin Private Eye in a giveaway. Now I’m paying it forward and one lucky reader will win an advance readers copy (ARC) of their very own! Read the rest of my review and enter our giveaway at http://popcornreads.com/?p=4367.
July 31, 2012
This book was quite the change of pace, a very "cozy" mystery feel with a teeny-tiny touch of hard-boiled flavoring. An odd PI with an offbeat approach to things, along the lines of Paul Tremblay's Narcoleptic Detective or Rick Yancey's Highly Effective Detective. Lipkin's an amusing enough character and the robbery suspects he's investigating are fairly interesting, but the mystery's pretty flat and the novel doesn't have a lot going for it.
In the end, it was a nice enough diversion for a couple of hours, but that's basically it.
In the end, it was a nice enough diversion for a couple of hours, but that's basically it.
December 13, 2012
I really enjoyed this book.
It was quick and easy to read.
I enjoyed following this old detective around and experiencing the days through his eyes. The challenges on things that are easy for me were insightful; and seeing his attitude toward them was usually fun.
I found the final wrap up to be a bit a bit of a let down; but I started expecting it earlier.
It was fun to learn more about the lives of the various people involved in the stories and see the deeper twists some lives take.
It was quick and easy to read.
I enjoyed following this old detective around and experiencing the days through his eyes. The challenges on things that are easy for me were insightful; and seeing his attitude toward them was usually fun.
I found the final wrap up to be a bit a bit of a let down; but I started expecting it earlier.
It was fun to learn more about the lives of the various people involved in the stories and see the deeper twists some lives take.
August 11, 2012
I knew that a book about an 87-year-old, Jewish, private detective in Florida was likely going to be a lot of fun. What was a real surprise was that Fantoni makes him quite believable. Harry is neither bumbling nor extraordinarily clever. He's a retired cop who still has his wits, even if he moves a whole lot slower. Great fun read.
October 1, 2012
It's a quick, quirky mystery that I solved early.
Still, Lipkin is interesting. Mrs. Weinberger sounds like Howard Wolowitz's mother in my mind.
Still, Lipkin is interesting. Mrs. Weinberger sounds like Howard Wolowitz's mother in my mind.
August 11, 2012
The ending was super predictable; it ended up being a cliche while trying to avoid being a cliche. The detective, Harry Lipkin was extremely likable. He was the one saving grace of this book.
June 20, 2017
The world's oldest private eye. At 87, Harry keeps up with his career, taking cases the police don't have the time to bother with. A great story about his current case of theft.
July 17, 2024
A mildly amusing cozy mystery featuring 87-year-old Jewish detective Harry Lipkin, who lives in Florida. As he describes himself, he may not be the best private eye but he’s certainly the oldest. Unfortunately it’s undercut by the fact that the mystery isn’t much of one, and the fact that the author is clearly not American. Having recently rewatched the TV series The Vicar of Dibley, it was obvious Fantoni is British, as he uses the same words and turns of phrase as his countrymen.
I actually would’ve liked this book much better if it were set in England, since stories about British Jews are few and far between. That said, it does have flashes of humor, which I liked. Harry speaks of his bow tie which was given to him by his cousin who bought it on a trip to Europe: “Two days in London. Two days in Paris. Two days in Dublin. Two weeks in bed recovering.”
I actually would’ve liked this book much better if it were set in England, since stories about British Jews are few and far between. That said, it does have flashes of humor, which I liked. Harry speaks of his bow tie which was given to him by his cousin who bought it on a trip to Europe: “Two days in London. Two days in Paris. Two days in Dublin. Two weeks in bed recovering.”
June 18, 2025
Three starts is generous for this book, likely saved by the fact that it was extremely short.
It is hard to imagine the thought process of writing this book, with a completely unsatisfying ending (which I had assumed at around page 10). It was the old person version of Matlock on paper (Yes, I understand how ridiculous that sounds). Start with a silly crime, get a handful of suspects and have the PI gather them around to explain who is guilty. Sprinkle in a little humor- in this case all directed at either Florida, Jews, or elderly- and the novel is complete.
There are far better comedic books, far better mysteries, but luckily not many far shorter novels.
It is hard to imagine the thought process of writing this book, with a completely unsatisfying ending (which I had assumed at around page 10). It was the old person version of Matlock on paper (Yes, I understand how ridiculous that sounds). Start with a silly crime, get a handful of suspects and have the PI gather them around to explain who is guilty. Sprinkle in a little humor- in this case all directed at either Florida, Jews, or elderly- and the novel is complete.
There are far better comedic books, far better mysteries, but luckily not many far shorter novels.
September 10, 2024
A review for readers who write:
Harry, our detective protagonist and first-person narrator, embodies endearing stereotypes on the way to trying to catch a thief. Suspects include the maid, the chauffeur, the gardener, the dowager, the butler … a nice send-up of Christie-ish characters.
Writers will want to pay attention to the ending — no spoilers here except to say that the mystery’s solution, revealed in a final chapter, is a reminder that Forster was right: A satisfying ending is hard to write.
Harry, our detective protagonist and first-person narrator, embodies endearing stereotypes on the way to trying to catch a thief. Suspects include the maid, the chauffeur, the gardener, the dowager, the butler … a nice send-up of Christie-ish characters.
Writers will want to pay attention to the ending — no spoilers here except to say that the mystery’s solution, revealed in a final chapter, is a reminder that Forster was right: A satisfying ending is hard to write.
December 10, 2024
Nice cozy-ish mystery featuring an 87 year old private investigator, Harry Lipkin, in Florida. It's hard to tell exactly which era or decade this book takes place, as there aren't mentions of computers, smartphones, the internet, social media, etc, but they're also not running around in a horse-and-buggy. Harry drives a Chevy Impala, but that could be anywhere between 1950s to 2020. Harry does have some slightly antiquated opinions, but he is 87 yrs old, after all.
The ending was unexpected but not a bad ending.
The ending was unexpected but not a bad ending.
October 5, 2021
Was very indecisive about what eating to give this. Was very interested from page one and never lost interest throughout the entire book. Love the way it was written, and really loved Harry Lipkin. Not sure exactly what I was expecting but the ending could be seen from a mike away. Nevertheless I had a lot of fun reading it but was overall very disappointed about where this book went. Had so much potential and came up short.
July 21, 2025
This book and/or author appeared in a local article about Jewish private eyes; when I stumbled on it in a used bookstore, I decided to give Harry a try. As a private eye, Harry isn't necessarily successful. As a gentleman of a certain age navigating life, and making connections, Harry's got it in spades. Although (spoiler!) he doesn't quite crack the case, it's a pleasant journey to from from Warmheart Florida.
October 15, 2017
Lipkin the oldest private I in the world, 87 years old, gets to investigate Mrs Weinberger, a widow whose belongings keep vanish and she suspects her staff.
They all have motives, the cook who helps Ethiopian Jews, the butler who gambles, the gardener who uses and the maid who has a brother in jail.
They all have motives, the cook who helps Ethiopian Jews, the butler who gambles, the gardener who uses and the maid who has a brother in jail.
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