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Jacob Singer #13
The Clark Gable and Carole Lombard Murder Case
"A clever plot, witty innuendo, and plenty of the Hollywood greats for company." - Library Journal As Gone With the Wind approaches release, all the stars but Clark Gable prepare to head for Atlanta for the big premiere. Clark and his wife, Carole Lombard, are too distressed to celebrate the opening of the biggest movie of his career because Lydia Austin, a young actress and a protege of Carole's, is missing. In fact, kidnapping paranoia is sweeping through Hollywood, and even with body-building bodyguards like the two Clark has hired to protect Carole, no one feels safe. But Carole is not a dame to take such threats lying down. Convinced that they can help, she and Clark set themselves up as amateur sleuths. Of course, there are plenty of other celebrities in the W.C. Fields alternates between anxiety over the kidnappings and trying to convince David O. Selznick that he should play Rhett Butler, and Groucho Marx also gets serious (just barely) long enough to worry about the missing girl, who is his current paramour.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1997
3 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
George Baxt
54 books19 followersGeorge 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 26, 2019
Between the lie about William Powell and the authors use of "he he he" over and over.. 2 stars is generous.
July 31, 2012
Wow. Just, wow. First off, the author just HAD to add a completely unnecessary falsehood about WIlliam Powell having syphilis (the REAL reason Jean Harlow died, not the kidney failure that the world heard about). Since Bill Powell is one of my favorite actors, this was something I was not a fan of.
Then, there is this Eskimo actress who continually chews on blubber and makes blubber cookies. Even in the late 1930's you'd be hard pressed to find someone in Hollywood who thought chewing on fat was sexy. This character also is supposedly from the Antarctic (you know, where all the other Eskimos and penguins live?).
Clark Gable is also said to have starred in a movie called "Hell Below". He didn't. He was in a movie called "Hell Divers", though. Carole Lombard is supposedly planning to start work on "Made For Each Other" after December 1939. That movie was released in February of 1939. Yes, fiction is fiction, but if you're going to base your book on real people and real events, at least do some research.
Oh yeah, and I'm sure Carole Lombard didn't laugh like "hee hee hee". No one laughs like that. It's best to just leave the laughing sounds out.
This book got a 2 simply because...well because I'm feeling generous.
Then, there is this Eskimo actress who continually chews on blubber and makes blubber cookies. Even in the late 1930's you'd be hard pressed to find someone in Hollywood who thought chewing on fat was sexy. This character also is supposedly from the Antarctic (you know, where all the other Eskimos and penguins live?).
Clark Gable is also said to have starred in a movie called "Hell Below". He didn't. He was in a movie called "Hell Divers", though. Carole Lombard is supposedly planning to start work on "Made For Each Other" after December 1939. That movie was released in February of 1939. Yes, fiction is fiction, but if you're going to base your book on real people and real events, at least do some research.
Oh yeah, and I'm sure Carole Lombard didn't laugh like "hee hee hee". No one laughs like that. It's best to just leave the laughing sounds out.
This book got a 2 simply because...well because I'm feeling generous.
September 5, 2017
Fun and bitchy and gossipy. Oh, and the mystery is pretty good too.
July 13, 2012
I liked this book a lot. I ordered more of these "star" murder mysteries after I finished reading George Baxt's book. I am not sure how much truth about the Silver Screen stars is spread throughout the book, but it isinteresting and fun. . . Anyone who loves old Hollywood and its stars will find this an intriquing read!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews