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Pierre Chambrun Mystery #6
Girl Watcher's Funeral
It’s fashion week at the Beaumont, and Chambrun must investigate a haute couture killingBarrel-chested and twinkle-eyed, Nikos Karados is one of the jet-set’s most charming figures. A Greek shipping magnate with a philanthropic bent, Karados has a Midas touch that turns charities into gold. For the sake of cancer research, he comes to New York to stage a fashion show at the stately Beaumont Hotel. Beaumont press agent Mark Haskell is admiring the models when he sees Karados collapse and perish from an apparent heart attack. Inspecting the body, the house doctor discovers that Karados’s medication has been replaced by placebos. To avoid a high-fashion panic, Beaumont manager Pierre Chambrun has Haskell quietly investigate the murder. Among the models, designers, and photographers lurks a killer, and Chambrun and Haskell will see to it that this unscrupulous fashionista spends next season wearing pinstripes.
- GenresMystery
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 15, 1970
9 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Hugh Pentecost
252 books21 followersHugh Pentecost was a penname of mystery author Judson Philips. Born in Massachusetts, Philips came of age during the golden age of pulp magazines, and spent the 1930s writing suspense fiction and sports stories for a number of famous pulps. His first book was Hold 'Em Girls! The Intelligent Women's Guide to Men and Football (1936). In 1939, his crime story Cancelled in Red won the Red Badge prize, launching his career as a novelist. Philips went on to write nearly one hundred books over the next five decades.
His best-known characters were Pierre Chambrun, a sleuthing hotel manager who first appeared in The Cannibal Who Overate (1962), and the one-legged investigative reporter Peter Styles, introduced in Laughter Trap (1964). Although he spent his last years with failing vision and poor health, Philips continued writing daily. His final novel was the posthumously published Pattern for Terror (1989).
His best-known characters were Pierre Chambrun, a sleuthing hotel manager who first appeared in The Cannibal Who Overate (1962), and the one-legged investigative reporter Peter Styles, introduced in Laughter Trap (1964). Although he spent his last years with failing vision and poor health, Philips continued writing daily. His final novel was the posthumously published Pattern for Terror (1989).
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 13, 2021
“They always go to the fancy places to die.”
Mark Haskell, Director of Public Relations at the Beaumont Hotel has found himself, much to his delight, caught up in a conversation with a young woman named Jan Morse. Throughout the interaction, he’s experiencing a range of reactions, this one physical,
“She laughed, and I felt a gentle waterfall of pleasure cascade down my spine.”
For the time being, Haskall has become transported away from his surroundings, beguiled, as it was, by the enchanting Miss Morse. And that is really saying something, considering the fact that this was a premier event for the hotel, a $500 per guest exclusive fashion gala that featured this season’s Max Lazar collection. The people all around Haskell and Morse were the jet set of the world of high fashion, all here to appreciate, and in some cases, envy the Lazar evening gowns that wrapped the lithe bodies of the strutting models in exquisite luxury.
As Haskell looks to Miss Morse, he realizes that in addition to her obvious charm was her quick perception, as it just dawned on him that she was referring to him, and the position he held at the hotel without him having previously informed her of these facts.
Then, without warning, her eyes darted away from him, in some unknown direction. He perceived, because of her hard-set facial expression, that something was happening, and that something was not good.
“Oh, my God!” She cried out, then began running in a rather dazzling display of athleticism in the direction of her boss…
Haskell followed close behind, just in time to catch a glimpse of the giant fat man slumping in the massive armchair he was sitting in, then Miss Morse blocked his view as she lowered herself beside him,
“Its in my vest pocket,” the Rubenesque, gasping man informed the young woman who was now hovering over him.
Haskall reached the scene just in time to see Jan’s hands produce a little glass vial from her boss’s pocket, unscrew the cap, and empty the white pill into the palm of her hand,
“Here, darling, quick – it’s going to be all right,” she breathed her words in an almost crooning tone.
For a moment, it looked as though the bulging man was beginning to relax and even look a bit better. Haskell noted this with relief as no hotel wanted to be saddled with the bad publicity that would be sure to come if a catastrophe were to befall the great Nikos Karados, who was one of the world’s most wealthy and influential men, and today, a very special guest of the Beaumont Hotel.
As Karados seemed to revive, Haskell thanked his lucky stars, as he knew he was looking down at a man who was infamously known for buying entire hotels for seemingly insignificant reasons, such as a poorly prepared egg at breakfast. He would fire all the management and, in a whim, rebrand the entire property in his own image.
But here, in this moment, the man was smiling, almost taking delight in looking to his beautiful assistant as she attended to his needs. Perhaps it was fitting, Haskell thought, that the great man would undergo a medical emergency while he was here at this event. He was its sponsor, and all monies raised were to be donated to cancer research and treatment.
The peaceful smile on Karados face was, Haskell imagined, a good omen for the hotel. The Greek tycoon had put on this event to allow the genius of Max Lazar, his friend, to be showcased in glittering display, but he’d had a deeper purpose…aiding those who were victims of the tragic ravages of cancer.
As Haskell looked at the Greek’s glowing countenance, he considered the possibility that this man would recover from this attack on his body, and as a result, the press would go wild, covering the great man’s near miss far and wide. This would undoubtedly shine a bright light on the cause that Karados was championing, and donations for cancer research would soar, and the tycoon would be thrilled as a result.
The Beaumont, Haskell thought, would then be safe from any potential takeover by the man who was known for sudden and unpredictable business acquisitions.
And just as the public relations man was considering these things, the hotels in house physician, Dr. Partridge appeared. Haskell watched as Karados looked straight at the doctor, his thick lips transforming into a wry smile,
“You old quack,” he called out, “Your medicine didn’t work!”
And then, just as suddenly, he closed his eyes in death…
And just as the death registered in Haskell’s mind, he looked at the shocked faces all about him, and he saw nothing but people who had the most to lose by the death of Nikos Karados.
And in that same moment, Mark Haskell felt another realization hitting him, it was a deeply felt impression that the tragedy he’d just witnessed was not a natural passing, but something different…
Something like murder.
And the moment to start investigating the possibilities was now…
Okay, I was only on page nine of a 184-page book, and I must say that right then I was guessing that by the end, I’d agree with what Alan L. Otten of the Wall Street Journal had to say about the writing of Hugh Pentecost,
“Neat plot, interesting characters, mature writing, and a pleasant background atmosphere…his ‘Red Badge’ is a gilt-edged pledge of well-crafted mysteries…”
And by the end, I was 100% certain that Otten was right about Pentecost. This was an amazing mystery, and among the many parts of it I enjoyed, the diverse and dazzling cast of characters was my favorite. And it wasn’t just the primary characters, but the secondary ones that delighted me. Among the colorful background characters were:
Nevers, the nasty night reception clerk.
Lecherous photographer Morrie Stein and his missing Leica.
The towering yachtsman the girls dubbed Gorgeous George.
Red, the Julie Christie girl who wore the wrong dress at the wrong time.
Mike, the bell captain with the young-old face of a Sicilian bandit.
A college professor moonlighting as a cab driver at night.
And all of these characters seemed to float in and out of a plot that included: detective PR men, Jimmy Cagney styled barristers, nude non-professional models and their counterparts the Matisse painting sort of fashion model and a bedroom that was more like a 24-hour nightclub than a place to sleep.
The experience of reading this story was like attending one, week-long murder mystery party!
Packed with fun this one was.
Mark Haskell, Director of Public Relations at the Beaumont Hotel has found himself, much to his delight, caught up in a conversation with a young woman named Jan Morse. Throughout the interaction, he’s experiencing a range of reactions, this one physical,
“She laughed, and I felt a gentle waterfall of pleasure cascade down my spine.”
For the time being, Haskall has become transported away from his surroundings, beguiled, as it was, by the enchanting Miss Morse. And that is really saying something, considering the fact that this was a premier event for the hotel, a $500 per guest exclusive fashion gala that featured this season’s Max Lazar collection. The people all around Haskell and Morse were the jet set of the world of high fashion, all here to appreciate, and in some cases, envy the Lazar evening gowns that wrapped the lithe bodies of the strutting models in exquisite luxury.
As Haskell looks to Miss Morse, he realizes that in addition to her obvious charm was her quick perception, as it just dawned on him that she was referring to him, and the position he held at the hotel without him having previously informed her of these facts.
Then, without warning, her eyes darted away from him, in some unknown direction. He perceived, because of her hard-set facial expression, that something was happening, and that something was not good.
“Oh, my God!” She cried out, then began running in a rather dazzling display of athleticism in the direction of her boss…
Haskell followed close behind, just in time to catch a glimpse of the giant fat man slumping in the massive armchair he was sitting in, then Miss Morse blocked his view as she lowered herself beside him,
“Its in my vest pocket,” the Rubenesque, gasping man informed the young woman who was now hovering over him.
Haskall reached the scene just in time to see Jan’s hands produce a little glass vial from her boss’s pocket, unscrew the cap, and empty the white pill into the palm of her hand,
“Here, darling, quick – it’s going to be all right,” she breathed her words in an almost crooning tone.
For a moment, it looked as though the bulging man was beginning to relax and even look a bit better. Haskell noted this with relief as no hotel wanted to be saddled with the bad publicity that would be sure to come if a catastrophe were to befall the great Nikos Karados, who was one of the world’s most wealthy and influential men, and today, a very special guest of the Beaumont Hotel.
As Karados seemed to revive, Haskell thanked his lucky stars, as he knew he was looking down at a man who was infamously known for buying entire hotels for seemingly insignificant reasons, such as a poorly prepared egg at breakfast. He would fire all the management and, in a whim, rebrand the entire property in his own image.
But here, in this moment, the man was smiling, almost taking delight in looking to his beautiful assistant as she attended to his needs. Perhaps it was fitting, Haskell thought, that the great man would undergo a medical emergency while he was here at this event. He was its sponsor, and all monies raised were to be donated to cancer research and treatment.
The peaceful smile on Karados face was, Haskell imagined, a good omen for the hotel. The Greek tycoon had put on this event to allow the genius of Max Lazar, his friend, to be showcased in glittering display, but he’d had a deeper purpose…aiding those who were victims of the tragic ravages of cancer.
As Haskell looked at the Greek’s glowing countenance, he considered the possibility that this man would recover from this attack on his body, and as a result, the press would go wild, covering the great man’s near miss far and wide. This would undoubtedly shine a bright light on the cause that Karados was championing, and donations for cancer research would soar, and the tycoon would be thrilled as a result.
The Beaumont, Haskell thought, would then be safe from any potential takeover by the man who was known for sudden and unpredictable business acquisitions.
And just as the public relations man was considering these things, the hotels in house physician, Dr. Partridge appeared. Haskell watched as Karados looked straight at the doctor, his thick lips transforming into a wry smile,
“You old quack,” he called out, “Your medicine didn’t work!”
And then, just as suddenly, he closed his eyes in death…
And just as the death registered in Haskell’s mind, he looked at the shocked faces all about him, and he saw nothing but people who had the most to lose by the death of Nikos Karados.
And in that same moment, Mark Haskell felt another realization hitting him, it was a deeply felt impression that the tragedy he’d just witnessed was not a natural passing, but something different…
Something like murder.
And the moment to start investigating the possibilities was now…
Okay, I was only on page nine of a 184-page book, and I must say that right then I was guessing that by the end, I’d agree with what Alan L. Otten of the Wall Street Journal had to say about the writing of Hugh Pentecost,
“Neat plot, interesting characters, mature writing, and a pleasant background atmosphere…his ‘Red Badge’ is a gilt-edged pledge of well-crafted mysteries…”
And by the end, I was 100% certain that Otten was right about Pentecost. This was an amazing mystery, and among the many parts of it I enjoyed, the diverse and dazzling cast of characters was my favorite. And it wasn’t just the primary characters, but the secondary ones that delighted me. Among the colorful background characters were:
Nevers, the nasty night reception clerk.
Lecherous photographer Morrie Stein and his missing Leica.
The towering yachtsman the girls dubbed Gorgeous George.
Red, the Julie Christie girl who wore the wrong dress at the wrong time.
Mike, the bell captain with the young-old face of a Sicilian bandit.
A college professor moonlighting as a cab driver at night.
And all of these characters seemed to float in and out of a plot that included: detective PR men, Jimmy Cagney styled barristers, nude non-professional models and their counterparts the Matisse painting sort of fashion model and a bedroom that was more like a 24-hour nightclub than a place to sleep.
The experience of reading this story was like attending one, week-long murder mystery party!
Packed with fun this one was.
September 16, 2021
Such a Wonderful Period Piece
This book actually takes place in the 1970's, but it reads much earlier. It was at the end of the era of luxury hotels where everyone dresses for dinner, the desk clerk remembers every guest's name and, most importantly, the dining room still served luscious food. Getting a glimpse of that world where elegance still prevailed adds some sparkle to the story.
The main characters in this series are nicely developed. You know them well enough that it you were given a scenario and had to predict how the characters would react, you would be able to do so correctly. Same is even true for some of the more minor characters. Great descriptive writing allows for this.
Last of all, the plot is right and will keep you guessing quite a while. The denouement is exciting.
There's only one reason I can think of to skip this read. Because of the time period, some word usage and societal behaviors reflect the time. If you can't read it as the picture into the past it is, you'll be offended. Just give yourself a break and skip it. Otherwise, it's a series I'd highly recommend.
This book actually takes place in the 1970's, but it reads much earlier. It was at the end of the era of luxury hotels where everyone dresses for dinner, the desk clerk remembers every guest's name and, most importantly, the dining room still served luscious food. Getting a glimpse of that world where elegance still prevailed adds some sparkle to the story.
The main characters in this series are nicely developed. You know them well enough that it you were given a scenario and had to predict how the characters would react, you would be able to do so correctly. Same is even true for some of the more minor characters. Great descriptive writing allows for this.
Last of all, the plot is right and will keep you guessing quite a while. The denouement is exciting.
There's only one reason I can think of to skip this read. Because of the time period, some word usage and societal behaviors reflect the time. If you can't read it as the picture into the past it is, you'll be offended. Just give yourself a break and skip it. Otherwise, it's a series I'd highly recommend.
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November 8, 2022Loved the plot!
March 6, 2025
Not my favorite Chambrun story. Felt like the reader was dumped into the story and it was hard to keep all the characters straight.
April 21, 2014
This Pierre Chambrun mystery didn't weather the time gap as well as most of them
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews