The Fatal Elixir: A Lobo Blacke/Quinn Booker Mystery

Matt Cobb Mysteries #8

by William L. DeAndrea

Someone has doctored Dr. Theophrastus McSwainey's Mirakola, a remedy for gout, cancer, spastic colon, excessive wind, and heart palpitations, and Lobo Blacke and Quinn Booker must discover who poisoned the snake oil before someone else dies

Genres: Mystery

246 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

William L. DeAndrea (1952–1996) was born in Port Chester, New York. While working at the Murder Ink bookstore in New York City, he met mystery writer Jane Haddam, who became his wife. His first book, Killed in the Ratings (1978), won an Edgar Award in the best first mystery novel category. That debut launched a series centered on Matt Cobb, an executive problem-solver for a TV network who unravels murders alongside corporate foul play. DeAndrea’s other series included the Nero Wolfe–inspired Niccolo Benedetti novels, the Clifford Driscoll espionage series, and the Lobo Blacke/Quinn Booker Old West mysteries. A devoted student of the mystery genre, he also wrote a popular column for the Armchair Detective newsletter. One of his last works, the Edgar Award–winning Encyclopedia Mysteriosa (1994), is a thorough reference guide to sleuthing in books, film, radio, and TV.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A troubleshooter for a network, who has married money, goes to England for a bit of a honeymoon and vacation. Wouldn't you know it, he is quickly drawn in to the London station and tasked with delivering an envelope. Seconds after the delivery a shot rings out, and our hero is a murder suspect who has to clear his name.

Quaint.

[Thomas Wüstemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

FATAL ELIXIR is the second book in the Blacke/Booker series of crime mysteries in the Old West, and sadly the last one, as the author died shortly after. 
So, we're left hanging with some unresolved storylines that were supposed to build an overarching plot. But the mystery itself is standalone, so it's fun to read in its own right.
All the colorful characters that made the first one so much fun are back, although not all are used equally. Abigail is quickly gone out of sight, which I understand, as she is connected to the bigger quest of getting to Lucius Jenkins, but still a shame. Clayton Henry is underdeveloped as the new addition to the team, whereas Dr. Mayhew and his son get prominent roles and are highly enjoyable.
And as DeAndrea's work is heavily based on character, the reading is as much fun as the first part.
The only downer is the slightly meandering narrative that loses focus of the main mystery at times and the predictability of the mystery. Still, it's very well constructed, just not very clever.
Like the first part, FATAL ELIXIR is a fun popcorn read that's made unique through its characters and the genre mix of murder mystery and Western.

[Jamie Jonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little mystery, by the end. In fact, DeAndrea's narrative was almost on a par with that of Rex Stout's Archie Goodwin, and coming from me that's VERY high praise. It was no surprise to learn that Mr. DeAndrea was a member of "The Wolfe Pack," Stout's foremost fan club. There were a few vulgarisms I could have done without, yet at the final, foggy climax I had to hand it to the writer: This is anything but a run-of-the-mill mystery. My other research indicates that the author died the very year this book was published, so it seems if I read any more of his works (which I probably will) they will all have been published prior to the one I began with. DeAndrea was a prize-winning mystery-writer, and I think that overall this is a good note for him to have gone out on.

[Marisa Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

An American on a leave of absence from his job as VP, Special Projects for a television network is in London with his girlfriend. He finds himself the prime suspect in a murder after doing a favor for someone. He is determined to find the real killer.

Interesting characters.

[Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those now sadly out of fashion detectives spouting sophisticated, sarcastic one liners from the Dorthy Sayers school of detective writing, adapted for young moderns.

A couple of hours of leisurely entertainment.

No more, no less.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute, Cobb, sassy but weak in the plotting

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

#2 in historical western series, wish there were more!