Dead as they come

by Kin Platt

When Donald Lawson, successful mystery-story writer, is murdered, suspects include almost everyone who ever knew him. He was a man who had no friends and deserved to have none. After his death, it was discovered that he had abandoned his wife, betrayed his friends, and double-crossed every human being he had ever encountered.The only one who ever had a kind word for him was his editor, Molly Mellinger, supposedly the number one mystery editor in New York. It is she who helps Detective Boos of the New York Police Department track down every clue and muddle through to a solution—but not before there is another murder.SuspectsComplications pile up endlessly, and Molly herself is in deadly peril before the surprising solution is reached.

206 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Pseudonyms: Kirby Carr, Guy West, Alan West, Guy York & Wesley Simon York

Kin Platt (1911–2003) was the author of the perennially popular I Can Read Book Big Max, as well as several outstanding young-adult novels and the Max Roper mystery series for adults. Mr. Platt was also a noted cartoonist.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin_Platt

Reviews

[David Kiersh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a mystery novel by Kin Platt without his usual detective character, Max Roper. It is a who-done-it focusing on the murder of a bestselling mystery writer that is roughly the same age as Platt when he was writing this. The book is also dedicated to Platt's editor at the time. The editior in the story, Molly, is the central character who tries to solve the murder. There is also a cartoonist character (Platt was a former newspaper cartoonist). The cartoonist in this story is most likely based on Irwin Hasen because Platt describes him as a small man with a preference for big women. Also, the comic strip described is somewhat similar to Dondi.

The story is entertaining with lots of interesting characters and surprises. I would, however, not say it is one of his best. Still enjoyed it!