Catch a Falling Clown

Toby Peters #7

by Stuart M. Kaminsky

A circus stakeout puts Toby Peters at the bottom of the food chainThe gorilla doesn’t like clowns. Normally that wouldn’t bother Toby Peters, since detective work tends to keep him far away from animal cages, but tonight he’s dressed as a clown and locked in with the ape. The animal’s handler told him not to worry—gorillas don’t eat people. They just like to tear their arms and legs off. What the ape doesn’t understand is that Peters is here for his protection. Earlier that week, someone electrocuted an elephant, and the gorilla, as one of the star attractions in this second-rate circus, is next on the hit list. Someone is killing animals to kill the circus, and if that doesn’t work they may move on to human prey. Toby Peters has a shot at unraveling this big top mystery, as long as he survives his night in the gorilla’s cage.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Detective

184 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Stuart M. Kaminsky wrote 50 published novels, 5 biographies, 4 textbooks and 35 short stories. He also has screenwriting credits on four produced films including ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, ENEMY TERRITORY, A WOMAN IN THE WIND and HIDDEN FEARS. He was a past president of the Mystery Writers of America and was nominated for six prestigious Edgar Allen Poe Awards including one for his short story “Snow” in 1999. He won an Edgar for his novel A COLD RED SUNRISE, which was also awarded the Prix De Roman D’Aventure of France. He was nominated for both a Shamus Award and a McCavity Readers Choice Award.

Kaminsky wrote several popular series including those featuring Lew Fonesca, Abraham Lieberman, Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, and Toby Peters. He also wrote two original "Rockford Files " novels. He was the 50th annual recipient of the Grandmaster 2006 for Lifetime Achievement from the Mystery Writers of America.

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievement award) in 2007.

His nonfiction books including BASIC FILMMAKING, WRITING FOR TELEVISION, AMERICAN FILM GENRES, and biographies of GARY COOPER, CLINT EASTWOOD, JOHN HUSTON and DON SIEGEL. BEHIND THE MYSTERY was published by Hot House Press in 2005 and nominated by Mystery Writers of America for Best Critical/Biographical book in 2006.

Kaminsky held a B.S. in Journalism and an M.A. in English from The University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in Speech from Northwestern University where he taught for 16 years before becoming a Professor at Florida State. where he headed the Graduate Conservatory in Film and Television Production. He left Florida State in 1994 to pursue full-time writing.

Kaminsky and his wife, Enid Perll, moved to St. Louis, Missouri in March 2009 to await a liver transplant to treat the hepatitis he contracted as an army medic in the late 1950s in France. He suffered a stroke two days after their arrival in St. Louis, which made him ineligible for a transplant. He died on October 9, 2009.

Reviews

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an old fashioned mystery novel set in World War II California. Investigator to the stars Toby Peters is hired to investigate the electrocution of a circus elephant. Soon it transforms into a murder investigation.

[Mack · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first I read in this series featured the Marx Brothers; the second, Bela Lugosi; and this one, Emmett Kelly and Alfred Hitchcock. It’s a great idea, but the plots, dialogue, characterization, and level of general development are written at a Young Adult level. These books are cozies, where violence, sexual, and language are kept safe for teens. Taken as such, they’re fine.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Stuart Kaminsky and his many characters' series. This story was in the Toby Peters series, which often places famous characters into the plot. The subject here was the circus and Emmet Kelly, and while not as funny or involving as others in this series, it was a solidly entertaining book. The plot was a bit weaker than I have come to expect from the author and the wry humor that is a Kaminsky hallmark was too sparse in my opinion.
Nevertheless, this is a quick and "light" read, making for a good respite from more serious literary fare-- call it a pleasant palette cleanser between courses. If you've never read anything by Kaminsky, however, I'd recommend beginning with one of his other editions.

[Ben Boulden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A medium-boiled P.I. whodunit with a superb setting--a 1940s circus--murder, Alfred Hitchcock, elephants and one very angry gorilla. My first experience with Kaminsky's Toby Peters series, but it won't be my last.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing my tour of great mystery writers of the 20th century, I turned to the well-regarded Stuart M. Kaminsky and a sample from his 24-book series featuring 1940’s Hollywood PI Toby Peters. Toby Peters is often considered to be the first historical private detective series, predating Max Allan Collins’ Nate Heller series by several years.

This is the 7th book in the series, first published in 1972, and was a real hoot as my grandmother would say. Toby is hired by the famous clown Emmett Kelly to investigate some mysterious happenings at the circus, especially the recent “murder” of an elephant. Soon after Toby arrives on scene two of the five Flying Tanuccis trapeze team are tragically killed, one after the other and Toby himself becomes a suspect. Kaminsky takes full advantage of the circus environment, introducing a strange variety of actual suspects as well as including a trademark of this series: popular figures of the era’s entertainment field. In this case, Alfred Hitchcock makes an appearance and gets to be interviewed as a witness.

The novel reads like a nostalgic popcorn flick which is, I suppose, no surprise as the author was a fan as well as a professor of film, and has written screenplays, and books on film theory and criticism. It’s a light-hearted story with comedic peril and while the danger that Toby gets into is real, the novel doesn’t take itself too seriously.

[Tommy Verhaegen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Niet een zoveelste verhaal over helden/sukkelaars in het circusleven maar een hardboiled kijk van Toby Peters erop. Moord gegarandeerd. En ook een inkijk bij de achtergronden van de personen die om allerlei redenen deel uitmaken van het circus en bij wie het circus in het bloed zit.
Al bij al toont dit verhaal veel gelijkenis met de klant van de detective: een clow. Een lach aan de buitenkant maar ietwat triest en tegelijkertijd angstaanjageden als je dieper kijkt.
Het geheel speelt zich af in Mirador waar Toby nog een onafgesloten conflict met de plaatselijke politiemacht wacht. Zij willen zijn bloed en bij de detective is dat altijd rijkelijk voorhanden.
Geen Hollywood achtegrond deze keer en ook geen bekende persoonlijkheden. Uitgezonderd Alfred Hitchcock maar dat is een heel speciaal geval.
Spannend, vol aktie en cynische humor, veel geweld. Voor de verandering zijn de meeste achtervolgingen niet per auto maar kruip-, sluip- en klauterpartijen volledig in lijn met circusacrobatiek.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think part of the reason I am not giving this one five stars is because the plot was very unexpected. If you saw my review for Think Fast Mr.Peters you would see raving about how funny that book was, tears down my cheeks from laughing so hard. I cried when I read this book too but for the complete opposite reason. The other reason is the whole book was just very somber and serious, no zingers, no pep. I plan on reading other books in the series though because I love these characters so much.

[F.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the least Hollywood of the Toby Peters books so far, so it’s a surprise that given the Hollywoodneas of them is their selling point, that i enjoyed this one more than the entries before. There is a movie cameo of sorts, but really this is a tense thriller with a great circus setting.

[Raquel Santos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Desta feita, o mistério a resolver é num circo.
Menos caras conhecidas por isso, mas ainda seguindo convictamente a fórmula hardboiled.

[Chazzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emmett Kelly is working in a small circus. One of the elephants is found dead and murder is the cause. When two of the Five Flying Tanuccis die rehearsing a stunt, Kelly decides to call in Toby Peters to find out who is the suspect and why these things have happened.

The suspect list is unusual: a man with an ugly facial scar, a female snake charmer, and a movie director claiming to be Alfred Hitchcock and there to gather insight to circus life for an upcoming movie.

One thing that makes the investigating difficult is the sheriff figures Toby to be the murderer — seems they crossed paths a while back and the sheriff wasn’t pleased with the outcome. To get around the problem, Toby becomes a clown, with the help of Kelly.

Set during the 1940s, Toby is a bit of a wise-cracking PI, based out of LA. This is one in a series of Toby Peters Mysteries. Very enjoyable!

[Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another mystery in the Private Eye Toby Peters series that takes place in the 1940. The hook to this series is that Toby always has a celebrity client that seeks him out for assistance. In this story the celebrity is the famous circus clown, Emmet Kelly. Some one or one(s) seem to be hell bent on destroying a circus that Kelly is working for by killing both animals and performers. An attempt is made on Kelly’s life at one point. The story is cross between drama and comedy as Toby is a very hard luck private investigator. Collection of clues often results in Toby being manhandled and place in very precarious situations. Overall this series and this mystery are easy reads with some fictional insight into his celebrity clients.

[John Reis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emmett Kelly, the clown, is working at a circus where accidents and animal killings are taking place. He hires Toby. Right after he arrives one of the trapeze artists dies in an ‘accident.’ Toby interviews the witnesses, which include Albert Hitchcock.

Then an elephant goes missing. The local sheriff, Nelson, decides Peters is responsible for everything. Toby spends the novel escaping or hiding from the sheriff. Toby asks his friends, Jeremy, Gunther and Shelley, his dentist officemate, to do his legwork while he stays hidden.

This is the weakest of the series so far. Toby is regularly attacked and complains about his back incessantly. At least, his angry brother plays a tiny role in this one.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent detective novel set in the early 40's. Great circus setting with interesting characters, including a young Alfred Hitchcock and Emmet Kelly, and a page turning plot. I have to read more by this author! Highly recommended!

[lance]

Could be the worst book he has ever written

You could not get close to any of the characters, and the story line was weak

[James Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tale about circuses and side-shows, murder and madness, in 1940s war-time California.

Marking a return to Mirador with its thin-skinned and small-minded sheriff, hulking deputy, and lack of future.

The Big Top. Clowns and high-wire acts. Lions, and tigers and gorillas, oh my! Elephanticide, homicide, attempted vehicular murders and a few not-so-romantic beach encounters. And Toby as a grease-painted clown act. Plus Alfred Hitchcock, collecting background for a planned scene in an upcoming movie, and Emmett Kelly (of the famous "Weary Willie" the clown act) as Toby's client.

Admittedly, not my favourite Toby Peters mystery, but it will definitely be a popular one with fans of the circus.

[Geri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was at my local used bookstore several days ago when the cover of this book caught my eye.
I love clowns.
Happy, sad, nice, evil -- I love clowns.
I don't get what it is about clowns that give people the heebie-jeebies.
One of my favorite clowns is Pennywise from Stephen King's It.

Book #7
Someone with a grudge against circuses is killing off the performers.
Emmett Kelly hires Toby Peters to find out who it is.
Good mystery sprinkled with real people.
I'd like to read the rest of the series.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Private eye Toby Peters has been hired by famous clown Emmett Kelly, who feels that his gig in a small circus puts his life in jeopardy. Kelly is also worried about the death of some circus elephants. Soon after Peters arrives in Mirador (to which local lawmen have warned him never to return), a tightrope walker dies in what Peters is sure is not an accident. Peters calls on his Los Angeles friends to help him, but he's soon in serious danger, from criminals as well as the law.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Consistent with the other two Toby Peters mysteries I've heard, escapist noir near parody. Peters is called by famous clown Emmet Kelly to investigate the suspicious death of a circus elephant near a town where Toby can't support the local sheriff. When aerialists die from falls and bullet wounds, Peters is the sheriff's choice of fall guy. An admirable distraction.

[Robert James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very good entry in the Toby Peters series. This time the action takes place at a circus, so you lose the LA environment of the 1940's. Probably not the best of the series but still entertaining.

[Mike Gustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was not Kaminsky's best, but it involves the circus, a gorilla named Gargantua, and Emmett Kelly, the famous clown (who actually lived before my time). Alfred Hitchcock also puts in an appearance. The novel is set in a nasty town in either Orange or San Diego County.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

These mysteries are set in the 1940's in Hollywood and always involve a movie star or two. Fun.

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Good; Continuing character: Toby Peters; detective assists clown Emmitt Kelly when animals and performers start getting killed at the circus.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toby Peters w/ Emmett Kelly

[Isaac · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one fell through the net.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the settings of these books--Hollywood in the 1940s and there's alway a celebrity. Toby Peters makes me laugh so I thoroughly enjoy the books.

[Nancy]

read

[Michael Paribello · Rating 4 out of 5]

great job evoking the atmosphere of a traveling circus