The Dorothy Parker Murder Case

Jacob Singer #1

by George Baxt

The first of three crime novels featuring well-known literary and theatrical figures of the 1920s and 30s written by the winner of a special Edgar in the States for "A Parade of Cockeyed Creatures", "A Queer Kind of Death" and "The Neon Graveyard".

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Humor, Cozy, Film

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

George Baxt, the US playwright, scriptwriter and novelist, in New York City, USA.

He began his career as a radio announcer, an actors' agent, and television scriptwriter. He claimed that as an actors' agent he threw James Dean out of his office because he needed a bath. George Baxt's career developed into scriptwriting cult horror films. He made a contribution to The Abominable Dr Phibes, although it was uncredited. His first novel A Queer Kind of Death, (1966), introduced the detective Pharoah Love who was the first in the genre to be both black and openly gay. The novel was very well received and marked the start of a new career in writing. Two further Pharoah Love novels soon appeared and were widely regarded as superior to the first. Nearly three decades passed before the final outings of Pharoah Love in two novels.

Meanwhile George Baxt introduced the detective duo Sylvia Plotkin and Max van Larsen, but these were soon abandoned and several non-series novels were produced. Starting with The Dorothy Parker Murder Case, George Baxt then began to use his knowledge of Hollywood life by using celebrities as characters in a series of detective novels.

He died following complications after heart surgery.

Interesting obituary here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obi...

Reviews

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dorothy Parker Murder Case is the first of thirteen fictional celebrity mysteries written by George Baxt. Later novels feature such luminaries as Mae West, Clark Gable, and Bette Davis--to name just a few. While each novel features a different cast of stars, Detective Jacob Singer is the lawman in each case.

The opener has Dorothy Parker, Alexander Woollcott and their Algonquin Round Table colleagues mixed up in a murder mystery that starts with a strangled Ziegfeld Follies girl who is discovered dead in George Kaufman's secret love nest. Kaufman didn't do it and can't figure out who would plant the dead girl on him. The girl was last seen in Rudolph Valentino's company at a high-profile party hosted by the mysterious (and uber-rich) Lacey Van Weber. Valentino is also dead--officially of a severe pleuritis attack, but there are rumors he was poisoned. Are the two deaths connected? Mrs. Parker knows a detective who will help them get to the bottom of things--without immediately assuming that Kaufman is guilty just because the body is in his bedroom.

Mrs. Parker is looking for some excitement in her life (she's just tried to commit suicide...again) and decides that helping Detective Singer look for clues and track down bad guys is just what the doctor ordered. It helps that she gets to spend lots of time posing innocent questions to the handsome, blue-eyed charmer, Van Weber, a man whose life seems to be a mirror of that fictional playboy, Jay Gatsby. The investigation will take Parker, Woollcott, and Singer through speakeasies and playhouses; from Italian restaurants to high class brothels. Others to be questioned include George Raft, Florenz Ziegfeld, Polly Adler, and Texas Guinan. And the trail will lead west all the way to Hollywood and the unsolved murder of director William Desmond Taylor.

This was a fun, tongue-in-cheek look at the Roaring Twenties. Lots of word play, satire, and quips...mostly well-played and only occasionally over-the-top. George Baxt has a way of making it seem absolutely plausible that all these well-known stars might set out to play detective on their own. I've previously read three others of the celebrity series (The Clark Cable & Carole Lombard Murder Case; The William Powell & Myrna Loy Murder Case; and The Alfred Hitchcock Murder Case). So far, I've rate them all at an even three stars. They are light entertainment and not meant to be terribly puzzling. A good read for a lazy afternoon that will make time fly by quickly.

This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.

[Michael Mallory · Rating 2 out of 5]

Several authors have capitalized on using real literary or entertainment figures of the twentieth century as characters in mysteries, and Baxt is one of them. Some authors go to great lengths to ensure that the real-life characters are depicted as they actually were, but Baxt ISN'T one of them. His approach is more gossip magazine than biography, and he habitually chose some of the wittiest people of their era--such as Dorothy Parker--and turned them into groaning punsters. If Burlesque punchlines are your cup of tea, then you may like this book, but Dorothy Parker herself would probably sue.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a romp through the world of Dorothy Parker and her Algonquin literary crowd. I'm rarely inclined to pick up a biography, so this book was a perfect way to gain insight into Parker's character while enjoying a light read.

The story is filled with familiar historical figures like Flo Zigfield and his Follies' girls and actor George Raft (before he "made it.") The prohibition era really came to light with Baxt's description of parties, politics and gangsters. It was great fun.

[Michael Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Hollywood and literary figures that populate this novel are the only reason to read it. The plot takes forever to get going, and the resolution is unsatisfying. If you are looking for better genre fiction of this type/period, look for the author Craig Rice.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dorothy Parker is looking for a new man to validate her existence, but she's sidetracked when her friend George S. Kaufman finds a dead body in his apartment. With the help of their friend Alexander Woollcott, she persuades New York City's detective to the stars, Jake Singer, to cover up Kaufman's part in the affair. A number of other showgirls seem to be targeted--and was the recently deceased Rudolf Valentino also a victim? When a Gatsby-like figure Lacey Van Weber, crosses Dottie's path, she seems to have found a new love, but Jake doesn't trust the man and neither, when you get right down to it, does Dottie. The witty Algonquin Round Table members expose their unhappiness and insecurities, and the Roaring Twenties are drowned in bootleg booze and cigarettes. Amusing and depressing in equal measure.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book was like watching an old 1930s screwball comedy. This murder mystery is full of characters who were actual writers, playwrights, actors, etc. and multiple “bump-offs.” Though it’s not exactly plausible to think of Mrs Dorothy Parker and Alexander Woollcott as amateur sleuths, the story was entertaining and very readable.

[Araych · Rating 4 out of 5]

New York 1926. Dorothy Parker, Alexander Woollcott, Robert Benchley and many other members of the Algonquin Round Table work to solve murders -- and along the way we meet George Raft, Florenz Ziegfeld and many others. Very witty very enjoyable mystery starting the day of Rudolph Valentino's funeral. I liked it a lot -- 4 stars.

[Liedzeit Liedzeit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever, sehr clever, ein bisschen zu clever. Die Idee, mit authentischen Figuren einen fiktiven Kriminalfall - mit eingestreuten echten - aufzubauen ist sehr gut, die Ausführung eigentlich auch, aber so richtig spannend ist das dann doch nicht.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the wordplay among the Round Table members.

[tily]

A light fun read!! I love this world. I wish the ending had a better payoff but still enjoyable.

[Michael Rutkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun! Quite a blast to read!

[Spiegel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Da minha resenha do Bookcrossing de 2007: Estória de ficcção envolvendo pessoais reais - a escritora Dorothy Parker, aquela do poema sobre o suicídio, e seus companheiros. Parece que o autor também escreveu outros livros com celebridades. Não achei muita graça no livro. O mistério é meio previsível (talvez fosse mais interessante se eles estivessem investigando a morte do Rodolfo Valentino em vez de uma corista fictícia) e o diálogo espirituoso não é tanto assim. E como eu não sei nada sobre os intelectuais americanos da década de 20, e da Sra. Parker só conheço o tal poema, os personagens poderiam ser qualquer um.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dorothy Parker solving a mystery. I found myself with a feeling of deja vu. I felt that I had read about the very same murder in a different, more recent series. I just couldn't enjoy it. The characters were well written, the dialogue was excellent. I believe I'll try the next in Mr. Baxt's series.

[Eric Secoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing murder mystery set among the literary set of the Algonquian round table in 1920s New York, complete with bathtub gin, Ziegfeld floozies, and a bon mot a minute.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot. Baxt is a bit off the wall, and so am I. Fun mystery.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: a dead showgirl is found and Dorothy Parker learns about murder and mayhem. She calls Singer.