Undressed to Kill: The Investigations of Ralphy

by David Andrew McGlone, Michael McGlone (Editor)

To Ralphy everything in life was a mystery, including life itself. He made it his business to survey the aspects of everyday life, that were beyond the scope of others and often Ralphy himself. A thinker and a lover, a tough guy and a philosopher; he aspired to be all of these and none. Ralphy was the city’s first, and only, existential Private Eye. Short in both height and intellect, Ralphy nevertheless embraces the absurdity of his position, staring at life through the bottom of a glass. Aided and abetted by his lethal and gorgeous secretary-cum-partner Rachel, Ralphy takes on, and solves, the strangest of cases. The High-Brow Detective Agency is established in a town that seethes with danger and sex; a place awash in alcohol and sin. Take a blackmailed husband and a little-bo-peep impersonator, then mix in an adulterous car salesman and his circus-folk kin. Add a death via the medium of chambermaid, toad loving revengers, a lethal meeting with a true femme fatale and a time-out for analysis; shake well and taste the world of Ralphy. A heady cocktail of the surreal and bizarre, this is Undressed to Kill

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 2012

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. The writer has a clever way of looking at things and stating them. The plot wasn't bad either, but i couldn't get more than 20% through the book before i quit reading in exasperation. This is the first time i've quit reading a book because of punctuation. There are so many unnecessary and misplace commas and missing periods and misused semi-colons, they stopped me cold several times on each and every page. If you're going to write, learn how to write. If you can't do that, make sure you find a good editor. Don't subject readers to this kind of junior high level garbage.

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review

This is a book that contains several stories written about a private detective named Ralph. The stores are interrelated and written with an ironic sense of humor. The detective is a sort of bumbling, drunken, idiotic individual who for better or worse always seem to be able to solve the case. An interesting and enjoyable book to read.

[Mariv · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Andrew McGlone’s book “Undressed to Kill: The Investigations of Ralphy” is a short collection of 6 easygoing stories about private investigator Ralphy and his way of solving cases in his High Brow Detective Agency. It was a great pleasure and joy reading this collection of “detective” stories. Ralphy’s way of solving crimes by seeking his next drink and his next woman sometimes ends with beating, and sometimes with escape which “has always been Ralphys favorite form of defence”.
In his facing down with criminals like the Martegna boys, Little Bo Peep, mob boss Lucerne he usually get saved by his secretary Rachel, and his lawyer friend Johnny “the Hawk” Mason, because Ralphy is quite "vertically challenged". Interesting quote that describes his investigation skills “If brains were dynamite, Ralphy wouldn’t have enough to blow his hat off”.
Authors writing style is quite narrative and it will be much interesting to follow events based on dialogue then narration. All the plots flow nicely, with right speed and length, keeping the reader guessing the outcome to the very end. At the end of this book I wasn't sure did I finished comedy book with splashes of detective elements, or detective book with splashes of comedy. In either way, it was a good reading material.
If you are seeking for a short detective book, looking for some crime solving but mainly getting laughter, and fun you should give a try for this book.

[Martha Bryce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost died laughing reading Undressed to Kill. This is a collection of stories from the files of the High Brow Detective Agency owned by a private eye named Ralphy. Parodying the great hard boiled investigators like Sam Spade from the Maltese Falcon, Ralphy is equipped with the two room office, the gorgeous secretary, a nose for trouble and a distinct like of a good drink. Unfortunately, Ralphy couldn't investigate his way out of a paper bag without the help of his motley crew of contacts like his secretary, Rachel, his old lawyer friend, Johnny 'the hawk' Mason, Sgt. Kelly. As he faces down criminals like Little Bo Peep, mob boss Mario Lucerne, the Martegna boys, Ralphy muses about Kierkegaard and Sartre and is usually totally oblivious of the crimes, deals and machinations that are going on around him. Ralphy is usually drunk, being beaten up, getting laid by a femme fatal or recovering from a bender but how could we help but love this noir detective who can synopsize War and Punishment on the same page that he skewers or screws up Shakespeare right before his trial in front of Justice Dezerts. McGlone is an absolutely brilliant writer though he does have a little problem with punctuation. Lots of people can edit but this type of amazing parody is rare and thrilling to encounter.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! I loved the Naked Gun style humour here and the style of writing. Ralphy - and all of his friends - are a breath of fresh air if you want to lose yourself for a while and just laugh. More Ralphy please.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woody Allen meets Police Squad in this occasionally uneven but really funny spoof novel. If you love your noir books, or just love extreme silliness, then take a look and enjoy. Excellent.