Doctor Syntax

by Michael Petracca

Harmon Nails III, wry observer of the human condition, cynical divorcee, reluctant literary student and reckless sportsman, tracks a priceless stolen heirloom. In the course of his pursuits, Harmon presents bemused readers with a satirical glimpse of academia, the Southern California lifestyle, and the rigors of finding one's identity, sexual and otherwise.

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is only nominally a crime novel. It chronicles Harmon Nails' attempt to get back antiquarian volumes that were stolen from him while being appraised. What initially appears to be a random robbery ultimately becomes a trip down a rabbit hole that Harmon struggles to make sense of, as it gradually appears to him that his rare volumes were the intended target for reasons that seem increasingly bizarre.

There's an interesting history to this book. It was one of two paperback originals on the schedule to be published by Black Lizard Books when the company was bought out by Vintage in 1990. Both books were shelved, even though both authors were paid an advance.

Doctor Syntax was eventually published by Capra Press in April of the following year. The other book was Death on the White Time by music critic Jim Dawson, which eventually also saw print a year later as Doghouse.